Anaemia Flashcards
Define anaemia
Reduction in the erythron mass based upon PCV (Htc), haemoglobin and RBC count
What is the clinical consequence of anaemia?
Inadequate oxygen carrying capacity in the blood
What is the physiological response to anaemia?
- Increased RBC 2,3-DPG - lowers Hb-o2 affinity - allows better o2 delivery to peripheral tissues
- Cats - Variety of Hbs which have different o2 affinities
- Increased EPO - alters tissue perfusion
- Behaviour alteration
What are the physiological causes of anaemia?
- Increased RBC loss
- Increased RBC destruction - IMHA
- Inadequate bone marrow production of RBC
What clinical signs are associated with anaemia?
- Pallor/ weakness
- CRT
- Tachy and bounding/weak pulses
- Tachypnoea, dyspnoea
- Haemic murmur - results from low blood viscosity
- Jaundice
- Petechia
- Pyrexia
- Lymphandenopathy
- Abdominal pain
Outline the normal response to decreased O2.
Reduced O2 levels in the blood EPO release from the kidney Stimulates Red bone marrow to produce RBCs Increased O2 carrying capacity of the blood
What is regenerative anaemia?
The regenerative response is due to the bone marrow trying to compensate increasing erythropoiesis by releasing juvenile RBCs (reticulocytes)Leads to polychromasia
What is meant by pre-regenerative?
A smear visualised before the release of reticulocytes has taken place - need 3-4 days before seeing an increase in juvenile RBCs
What is non-regenerative anaemia?
When the bone marrow is unable to compensate due either to primary bone marrow disease or no endocrine (EPO) response to reduced O2 carrying capacity
At which days post insult is the regenerative response at its peak?
4-7 daysCharacterised by polychromasia and reticulocytes
What is the difference between an aggregate and punctate reticulocyte?
Aggregate contain large amounts of RNA and last only 24 hours.Punctate contain small amounts of RNA and last up to 10 days.
Which type of reticulocyte reflect current/ ongoing regenerative response in cats?
Aggregate
What is the observe response to acute haemorrhage?Describe and explain the haemocrit values observed immediately following haemorrhage and 24 hours later.
- Proportional loss of all blood components, fluid moves into the vascular space, decreased PCV and TP Hct
- Immediately - PCV 45% due to compensatory splenic contraction
- 24 hrs - PCV 40% due to interstitial fluid moving into the vascular space
How would an animal with acute haemorrhage present in practice?
Would present as hypovolaemic shock:
- Pallor
- Tachycardia
- Weak peripheral pulses Poor peripheral perfusion
- > CRT
- Cold extremities
- Increased lactate
What finding is most suggestive of acute blood loss as a cause?
- Hypochromasia and microcytosis on smear
- Decreased TP
- Thrombocytopenia
- Polychromasia
- Decreased MCHC
3
How can chronic blood loss lead to iron deficiency anaemia?How is IDA characterised on a blood smear?
Leads to consumption of irons stores.
- Hypochromasia
- Microcytic RBCs
- May be regenerative (once erythropoiesis slows) or non-regenerative
How long does it take for IDA to develop in adults and why?
Takes about one month of chronic bleeding to develop due to abundant stores of iron in adults
What is the most common cause of IDA?
GI haemorrhage - may be due to NSAIDs, steroids, neoplasiaCan also be:
- Urinary
- Skin
- Resp
- Congenital defects
- Parasitic infestations