Anaemia AB Flashcards
What is the main source of iron for haematopoiesis?
Recycled iron from reticuloendothelial system
Where is most of the body’s iron stored?
Hb in circulating red cells
What regulates iron absorption?
1) Oxygen tension
2) Intracellular iron levels
3) Systemic iron needs
What is the role of hypoxia-induced factor?
Hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-2a)
- induced by reduced oxygen tension
- transcriptional control of DMT-1 and ferroportin
What is the role of iron regulatory proteins?
Iron regulatory proteins type 1 and 2 (IRPS1/2)
- responds to intracellular iron level
- binds to iron-response elements that impact on mRNA stability and translation
What is the role of hepcidin?
Hepcidin: binds to ferroportin and induces its degradation
- Systemic regulation of iron absorption; liver production
- Regulated by: HFE, TfR2, HJV, inflammation, hypoxia, EPO
- Acute phase reactant, largely mediated by IL-6
How do hepcidin levels differentiate between iron overload and iron deficiency?
Iron overload: hepcidin increased
Iron deficiency: hepcidin reduced
Where is iron absorbed?
Duodenum
Iron deficiency anaemia - what do you see on blood film?
Microcytic, hypochromic cells, pencil cells, thrombocytosis, increased RDW
Iron deficiency anaemia - what do you see on iron studies?
Transferrin increased Transferrin saturation decreased TIBC increased Ferritin reduced Soluble transferrin receptor increased (less specific than low ferritin)
Anaemia of chronic disease - what is the mechanism?
IL-6»_space; increased hepcidin»_space; ferroportin degraded
Altered or abnormal iron haemostasis
- reduced absorption or trapping in macrophages
Reduced red cell production by bone marrow
- toxicity/cell death of precursors; CK mediated effect
Blunted response to EPO
- reduced production of EPO, reduced receptors, reduced responsiveness
Shortened red cell survival
- erythrophagocytosis; CK and free radical damage
How does soluble transferrin receptor differentiate iron deficiency from anaemia of chronic disease?
Increased in iron deficiency anaemia
Normal in anaemia of chronic disease
What factors affect the level of soluble transferrin factor?
Soluble transferrin receptor is derived from bone marrow erythroid precursors
Directly proportional to erythropoietic rate
Inversely proportional to iron stores
Blood film - what is the cause of ovalocytes?
Megaloblastic anaemia
Megaloblastic anaemia - which drugs cause this?
Antifolate drugs
- MTX, pentamidine, TMP
DNA synthesis
- AZA, hydroxyurea, Zidovudine, chemo
Macrocytic anaemia - what are the causes?
B12/folate deficiency Drugs (antifolate, DNA synthesis) Reticulocytosis BM pathology (MDS, myeloma, aplastic anaemia) Liver disease, EtOH, phenytoin Copper deficiency Arsenic Down syndrome
Macrocytic anaemia - what are some factitious causes?
Cold agglutinins
Old sample
Hyper-osmolar state
B12 - where is it absorbed?
Terminal ileum
B12 - how is it absorbed?
Initially bound by transcobalamin I or haptocorrin (R protein)
Pancreatic enzymes release cobalamin from these and allow binding to intrinsic factor from gastric parietal cells
B12-IF complex binds to receptor (cubulin) in terminal ileum, taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis and absorped into portal circulation
Pernicious anaemia - what is the mechanism?
Autoimmune destruction of gastric mucosa/parietal cells
Leads to reduced acid production and reduced IF
Pernicious anaemia - what are the associations?
Blue eyes, fair hair, northern european Family history Blood group A Vitiligo, thyroid disease, Addison's, hypoparathyroid Hypogammaglobulinaemia Gastric carcinoma
Pernicious anaemia - what investigations can you do?
Intrinsic factor antibodies - very specific but only 50% sensitive
Parietal cell antibodies - sensitive but not specific (positive in 15% of normal females)
B12 deficiency - causes?
Pernicious anaemia Nutritional (strict vegans) Ileal pathology - Crohn's - Ileal resection - Tropical sprue/tapeworm - Mutation/deficiency of receptor for IF Gastrectomy Other - NO poisoning - Congenital abnormalities
B12 deficiency - what are the features on blood film?
Macrocytic anaemia Hypersegmented neutrophils - May develop before anaemia develops Oval macrocytes Low reticulocyte count Pancytopaenia may occur
Folate - what is the source?
Dietary (only)
Folate - where is it absobed?
Small bowel
Folate - how long do the stores last?
Months
Folate - where is it stored?
> 95% in RBC
Decreased haptoglobin - what are the causes
Haemolysis Liver failure Megaloblastic anaemia Anaemia of chronic disease Congenital
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia - what are the causes?
TTP/HUS Atypical HUS Pre-eclampsia HELLP Malignant hypertension Renal allograft rejection
Atypical HUS - what is the cause?
Inherited dysregulation of complement system
Atypical HUS - what is the treatment?
Eculizumab
TTP - what is the classic pentad?
Haemolysis with red cell fragmentation Thrombocytopaenia Fever Neurological signs Renal impairment
TTP - what is the pathogenesis?
- ADAMTS13 deficiency (hereditary or acquired); protease that cleaves vWF
- Increased high molecular weight vWF
- Abnormal platelet aggregation
- Microvascular thrombosis
- Tissue ischaemia
TTP - what are the causes?
Idiopathic Pregnancy Drugs (CsA, chemotherapy) Bone marrow transplant Malignancy HIV Familial
TTP - what is the mortality if untreated?
> 90% - haematologic emergency
TTP - what is the treatment?
PLEX
Avoid platelet transfusions
Immunosuppression
PNH - what is the genetic basis?
Rare, acquired clonal disease of haematopoiesis
Somatic mutation in pig-A gene
PNH - what is the mechanism?
Defective production of phosphatidylinositol glycan A (PIG-A) which is essential for the formation of the GPI anchor
Loss of several surface proteins that protect the cell from complement-mediated lysis: CD55, CD59
PNH - what is the diagnosis?
Flow cytometry (gold standard)
- CD55 and CD59 on RBC + neutrophils
- FLAER
PNH - what is the treatment?
Transfusions; SCT
Thrombosis management - lifelong after 1st thrombosis
Eculizumab: anti-C5 (targets terminal component of C’ cascade)
Paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria - causes?
Idiopathic
Syphilis
Viral infections