Anaemia Flashcards
How does a reduction in plasma volume effect Hb levels + when is this situation seen
Increases them
Dehydration
What are the three types of anaemias
- Hypochromic (low MCV)
- Normochromic (normal MCV)
- Microcytic (high MCV)
Why may some patients be asymptomatic for anaemia
- Slowly falling level of Hb = compensation as oxygen-dissociation curve will shift to the right, so that oxygen is more easily dissociated from Hb
Symptoms of anaemia
- Fatigue, headaches, faintness
- Breathlessness
- Angina
- Intermittent claudication
- Palpitations
How does anaemia additionally effect older people
Exacerbates cardiorespiratory problems
Clinical signs of anaemia
- Pallor
- tachycardia
- Systolic flow murmur
- Cardiac failure
SPECFIC:
- Koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails in longstanding iron deficiency anaemia)
- jaundice (haemolytic anaemia)
- Leg ulcers (associated with sickle cell)
- Bone deformities (thalassaemia)
Investigations for anaemia in peripheral blood
1, Red cell indices
- the WCC
- Platelet count
- Reticulocyte count (indictes marrow activity)
- Blood film
What should be seen on a blood film for anaemia
Two populations of red cells are seen - dimorphic
How is bone marrow investigated in anaemia
- Cellularity of marrow
- Type of erythropoiesis
- Infiltration of marrow
- Iron Stores
RBC lifespan
120 days
How does reticulocyte count correlate with bone marrow production measurement
Low count - Production of Bone marrow is an issue
High count - removal of bone marrow is an issue
What is MCV
Average volume of RBCs
What is the main cause of anaemia
Iron deficiency
Anaemia caused by chronic disease
Thalassaemia
What is the average intake of iron
15-20mg
How much of ingested iron is absorbed by the duodenum
10%
How is Iron absorbed
- AT into duodenal epithelial cells via HCP1 and incorporated into Ferritin
What happens to absorbed iron so it can travel in th blood
Bound to transferrin -> bone marrow to be incorporated into new erythrocytes
Where is iron stored in th body
Reticuloendothelial cells as FERRITIN or HAEMOSIDERIN (macrophages in bone marrow, liver and spleen)
Causes of iron deficiency anaemia
- Menorrhagia
- GI bleeding
- Hookworm (leading cause - GI blood loss)
Poor diet
Malabsorption
What happens to RBCs in iron-deficiency anaemia
- Crucial for haemoglobin production + reduction in iron = decrease in haemoglobin + smaller RBCs
MICROCYTIC ANAEMIA
Clinical presentation of iron-deficiency anaemia
- Brittle nails + hairs
- Koilonychia
- Atrophy of the tongue papilla
- Cheilosis (ulceration of mouth corners)
What are three differential diagnostics for iron-deficiency anaemia
- Thalassaemia
- Sideroblastic anaemia
- Anaemia of chronic disease
How is iron-deficiency anaemia diagnosed in blood tests
- RBCs and microcytic and HYPOCHROMIC (pale)
- Poikilocytosis (variation in shape) and anisocytosis (variation in size)
- Serum iron is low
- TIBC (total iron-binding capacity) rises to normal (transferrin below 19% saturation = iron deficiency)
5
How does serum ferritin help in diagnosis
Level reflects amount of iron stored - confirms DIAGONSIS
What happens to the number of transferrin receptors in iron-defiiceny anaemia
Increases
Reticulocyte in iron deficiency anaemia
Low
How is Iron deficiency anaemia treated
- Oral Iron (FERROUS SULPHATE)
Side effect of ferrous sulphate
Nausea
Abdominal Discomfort
Diarrhoea/constipation
Black stools
What can be given as a replacement to serous sulphate if side effects are bad
Ferrous GLUCONATE
In extreme cases (e.g. severe iron malabsorption) what can be given
Parenteral iron
What is anaemia of chronic disease
Anaemia that is secondary to chronic disease = anaemia
RBC appearance in chronic disease anaemia
NORMOCYTIC (could be microcytic)
When can RBCs be microcytic in CDA
Rheumatoid and crohn’s disease
What is the most common anaemia in hospital patients
CDA
What chronic infections cause anaemia
- TB
- Crohn’s
- Rheumatoid
- SLE
- Malignancy
Pathophysiology of CDA
- Decreased release of iron from bone marrow to developing erythroblasts (before they become reticulocytes)
- Inadequate erythropoietin response (cytokine which increases RBC production) to anaemia
- Decreased RBC survival
Clinical presentation of CDA
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dyspnoea
- Angina
- Anorexia
- Intermittent Claudication
- Palpitations
Level of iron and TIBC in CDA
- LOW TIBC and SERUM IRON
Level of serum ferritin in CDA
Normal/ raised due to inflammatory process
Level of transferrin receptors in CDA
Normal