Anaemia Flashcards
How many red blood cells are present in the body
24 trillion
What is total body iron mass
3-5g
Where is majority of dietary iron absorbed?
In the duodenum by enterocytes
In what forms can dietary iron be absorbed?
Fe2+
As part of a protein
How is Fe3+ reduced to Fe2+
Ferric reductase enzyme found on brush border of duodenum
What are transferrins
Iron binding blood plasma glycoproteins used to control levels of free iron in plasma
How many Fe3+ ions can a transferrin carry
2
Where does iron go once its been absorbed
Bone marrow
What takes up iron ions once inside the cell
Ferritin
How is iron stored
Why?
Inside cells in ferritin
Allows iron to be released in a controlled manner and is a buffer against deficiency or overload
What counts as anaemia for a male adult?
Hb less than or equal to 13.5g/dl
What counts as anaemia for female adult
Hb<11.5g/dl
What counts as anaemia for child 6m-6y?
Hb<11g/dl
What counts as anaemia for child 6-14y?
Hb<12g/dl
Symptoms of anaemia?
Tiredness Fainting Shortness of breath Worsening angina Rapid heart
Signs of anaemia
Pallor Rapid heart Bounding pulse Systolic flow murmur Cardiac failure
What can cause anaemia by causing decreased production of red cells (5)
- Iron deficiency
- B12/ folate deficiency
- Marrow infiltration
- Chronic disease
- Infection
What can cause anaemia by causing increased deustruction (haemolytic anaemia)
- Immune destruction
-Disorders of RBC
(haemolytic anaemia)
What are the MCV guidelines in terms of categorising anaemia?
Microcytic: MCV<76fl
Normocytic: MCV 76-96fl
Macrocytic: MCV>96fl
2 main causes of microcytic anaemia
Iron deficiency and thalassaemia
How do red blood cells appear in iron deficiency anaemia?
Small/ microcytic
Hypochromic
Presence of pencil cells
Risk factors for iron deficiency anaemia
Age (premature/ elderly)
Sex (F>M)
GI (appetitte/ weight changes)
Drugs (aspirin/ NSAIDS)
What is the worldwide most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia
Hookwormm
4 most common causes of iron deficiency anaemia in the developed world
Reproductive (eg menorrhagia)
GI tract bleeding (ulcers, IB, cancers)
GI tract malabsorption (coeliac, atrophic gastris_
Vegan
What woulld full blood count show in iron deficieny anaemia
Low RBC
Main causes of normocytic anaemia
Acute blood loss Chronic disease Cancer Haemolysis Metastatic cancer (marrow infilitration)
How does chronic disease lead to normocytic anaemia
- Causes reduced red blood cell lifespace leading to depressed erythropoiesis
- Poor marrow response to EPO as inflammatory cytokines interfere with EPO production/ action
Another name for vitamin B12?
Cobalmin
Funtions of vitamin B12?
Synthesis of myelin and assists in DNA synthesis
Involved in metabolism of every cell- especially cells with high turnover
Result of prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency?
Severe and irreversible nerous system daamge
Is vitamin B12 destroyed by cooking?
No