Anaemia

Question 1

What are the two broad causes of anaemia?

Answer 1

Decreased production of RBCs

Increased destruction/loss of RBCs

Question 2

Give some signs and symptoms of anaemia

Answer 2

Pallor, weakness, lethargy
Dyspnoea/increased HR
Angular stomatosis (iron deficiency)
Glossitis (vit B12 deficiency)
Splenomegaly
Koilonychia

Question 3

Give some physiological adaptations to anaemia

Answer 3

• Increased cardiac output/SV
• Increased HR
• Increased EPO

Question 4

Give some causes of anaemia where the reticulocyte count in high

Answer 4

Haemolysis
Bleeding
Sequestration in the spleen

Question 5

What are the 3 types of anaemia which produce a low reticulocyte count?

Answer 5

Microcytic
Normocytic
Macrocytic

Question 6

What are the possible causes of microcytic anaemia?

Answer 6

TAILS:

• Thalassaemias
• Anaemia of chronic disease - but more often normocytic
• Iron deficiency
• Lead poisoning
• Sideroblastic anaemia

Question 7

What are the possible causes of normocytic anaemia?

Answer 7

• Bleeding
• Haemolysis
• CKD
• Marrow infiltration
• Anaemia of chronic disease

Question 8

What are the possible causes of macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 8

• Vit B12/folate deficiency
• Liver disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Drugs
• Pregnancy

Question 9

What sort of anaemia would vitamin B12/folate deficiency cause?

Answer 9

Macrocytic anaemia with low reticulocyte count

Question 10

What sort of anaemia does iron deficiency cause?

Answer 10

Microcytic anaemia with low reticulocyte count

Question 11

What sort of anaemia do you usually see in the anaemia of chronic disease?

Answer 11

Normocytic anaemia with low reticulocyte count

Question 12

What do you usually see in anaemia caused by bleeding?

Answer 12

Reticulocytosis