Anaemia

Question 1

Define anaemia.

Answer 1

low red blood cell concentration

Question 2

Mechanisms of anaemia

Answer 2

reduced production of red cells/haemoglobin in the bone marrow
Reduced survival of red cells in the circulation - haemolysis
Loss of blood from the body
Pooling of red cells in a very large spleen

Question 3

Microcytic anaemia is usually also?

Answer 3

hypochromic

Question 4

Normocytic anaemia is usually also?

Answer 4

normochromic

Question 5

Macrocytic anaemia is usually also?

Answer 5

normochromic

Question 6

Common causes of microcytic anaemia?

Answer 6

defect in haem synthesis (iron deficiency/anaemia of chronic)
defect in globin synthesis (thalassaemia)

Question 7

Common causes of macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 7

lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, drugs, liver disease and ethanol toxicity, haemolytic anaemia

Question 8

Erythrocyte function depends on?

Answer 8

integrity of the membrane
haemoglobin structure and function
cellular metabolism

Question 9

What condition interferes with the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane?

Answer 9

Hereditary spherocytosis

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Question 10

What condition interferes with the haemoglobin structure and function?

Answer 10

sickle cell anaemia

Question 11

What condition interferes with the cellular metabolism?

Answer 11

G6PD deficiency

Question 12

Common causes of normocytic anaemia?

Answer 12

recent blood loss (trauma, GI haemorrhage), failure to produce red cells (bone marrow failure/chemotherapy), pooling of red cells in the spleen (hypersplenism e.g/ liver cirrhosis, splenic sequestration in sickle cell)