Anaemia Flashcards
PCV means the same as..
Hct
Name 3 haematinics?
I.e. substances required for normal development of red cells
Iron
Vit B12
Folate
Name 4 iron studies?
Serum ferritin
Serium iron
TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
Transferrin
Anaemia symptoms?
Tiredness/fatigue/lassitude/drowsiness Headache Weakness Light headedness/dizziness/vertigo Fainting Breathlessness on exertion Palpitations Worsening ischaemic symptoms e.g: Angina, Intermittent claudication Menstrual disturbance
Non-specific signs of anaemia?
Pallor Pale conjunctiva Pale palmar creases Tachycardia Postural hypotension Signs of congestive heart failure e.g. ankle swelling Murmur
Signs of Fe def anaemia?
Brittle nails and koilonychia
Brittle hair
Angular stomatitis
Glossitis (redness of the tongue and loss of papillae)
Signs of B12 def anaemia?
Angular stomatitis
Glossitis (redness of the tongue and loss of papillae)
Signs of haemolytic anaemia
Jaundice
As destruction > production
Signs of sickle cell disease
Leg ulcers
Signs of thalassaemia major
Bone deformities
Lifespan of RBC?
120 days (require 1% renew`al per day)
Name 5 of the main causes of anaemia?
- Blood loss
- Nutrient deficiency or malabsorption e.g. iron (due to hookworm inf), vit b12, folate, malnutrition
- Chronic system disease e.g. anaemia or chronic disease, kidney/liver/thyroid disease
- Immune disease e.g. autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, transfusion reactions (ABO incompatibility)
- Infections e.g. CMV, malaria
Risk factors for iron deficiency anaemia?
Female Extremes of age Lactation Pregnancy Poverty
4 causes of microcytic anaemia?
Chronic blood loss
Low iron stores
Thalassaemia
Lead poisoning
Causes of normocytic anaemia?
Acute blood loss
Endocrine disease
Combined deficiency
Causes of high macrocytic anaemia?
Megaloblastic anaemias (pernicious anaemia, nutritional deficiency anaemia of folic acid and vit b12) Drugs Liver disease (e.g. alcohol abuse)
What is meant by megalobasltic anaemia?
Anaemia due to nutrient deficiency e.g.
- Fe def
- Folate
- Vit B12
Fe def gives a microcytic picture
Folate and vit b12 are macrocytic due to arrested of erythroblasts DNA development.
What is meant by pernicious anaemia?
Specific autoimmune disorder –> Gastric mucosa atrophy + IF deficiency –> Low B12 uptake
Other indicators:
- Parietal cell antibodies
- IF antibodies
- Other autoimmune disorders such as hypothyroidism
Difference between menorrhagia and menometrorrhagia?
Menorrhagia is abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual periods at regular intervals. Menometrorrhagia is prolonged or excessive bleeding occurring irregularly and more frequently than normal.
What type of anaemia does chronic blood loss lead to?
Chronic blood loss leads to on-going iron loss and produces a microcytic hypochromic anaemia due to eventual iron deficiency. The red cells are small pale and hypochromic due to lack of iron. There is often an increase in platelet count (thrombocytosis) as a result of a reactive increase in bone marrow activity.
What is transferrin?
High level indicates…
Protein which transports iron
High in Fe deficient anaemia (so when Fe stores are low)
Difference in the anaemic response in acute and chronic blood loss?
In acute haemorrhage there is a rapid development of a normocytic normochromic anaemia with a reactive increase in reticulocytes (reticulocytosis) within 6 hours.
In chronic gradual blood loss there is a gradual development of a microcytic hypochromic anaemia with or without a low serum ferritin due to low storage levels of iron. (Iron stores are used up replacing the lost red blood cells.) There is a reactive increase in the platelet count (thrombocytosis.)
Inherited haemolytic anaemia?
Sickle cell disease
Excessive haemoysis leads to..
unconjugated bilirubin in the blood and consequently jaundice
urinary urobilinogen (product of bilirubin breakdown)
LDH in blood (lactate dehydrogenase released from the cells)
reticulocytosis (due to bone marrow compensation)
