Anaemia and haematinic deficiencies Flashcards
What is blood made up of?
plasma 55% (91% is water) buffy coat (white cells and platelets + red blood cells - 45%
What is anaemia?
lack of blood - reduction in Hb, red cell count or haematocrit
What are the normal levels of haemoglobin?
males >130 g/L females >120g/L pregnant woman >110 g/L children 6-59 months >110g/L children 5-11 years >115 g/L children 12--14 years >120 g/L
How many new red cells are made per day and what is their life span?
10 to the power of 12 new ones per day
life span: 120 days
form in the bone marrow from myeloid cells - differentiate from blasts which are regulated by erythropoietin
the nucleus of the cell is removed just before leaving the bone marrow
What are the 3 main types of anaemia?
Microcytic (MCV <80fL)
Normocytic (MCV 80-90fL)
Macrocytic (MCV >95 fL)
The size of the red blood cells can help determine the cause
What are the causes of microcytic anaemia?
Thalassaemia and thalassaemia trait (NOT sickle cell)
Iron deficiency (most common cause worldwide)
Anaemia of chronic disease
Sideroblastic anaemia (congenital or acquired)
What are the causes of normocytic anaemia?
Anaemia of chronic disease
Acute blood loss
Mixed haematinic deficiencies
Bone marrow failure (not able to produce enough cells) - aplastic anaemia, drugs e.g chemo
What are the causes of macrocytic anaemia?
Megaloblastic anaemia Myelodysplasia- ware and tare on the bone marrow Haemolytic anaemia liver disease Alcohol Drugs - esp. antiepileptics, hydrocarbamide Hypothyroidism Pregnancy
It is typical with b12 and folate deficiencies
What is MCV?
mean corpuscular volume = average volume of a red blood cell
What are the main causes of acquired anaemia?
unable to make red cells
- deficiencies in b12, folate, iron
- bone marrow pathology - aplastic anaemia, myelodysplasia, myeloma
- displacement of bone marrow - leukaemia, myelofibrosis
- chronic disease- renal failure, chornic inflammatory conditions
destroying red blood cells
- haemolysis
- bleeding
What are the main causes of congenital anaemia?
membrane defect
- hereditary spherocytosis
- hereditary epilptocytosis
haemoglobin defect
- sickle cell anaemia
- thalassemia
enzyme defect
- G6PD deficiency
- pyruvate kinase deficiency
What happens during bleeding?
Rapid loss of whole blood= hypotensive - Hb conc remains the same
Then plasma vol expands to try and maintain BP = dilution of red cells so Hb falls but MCV remains the same (normocytic)
Chronically, iron stores deplete due to making new red cells but Hb and MCV remain relatively normal
However, once iron stores are depleted, you become iron deficient, microcytic hypochromic red cells being made
What are haemotinics?
B12, folate, iron - needed to make healthy red blood cells
What are the signs and symptoms of anaemia?
Signs: pica, koilonychia, pallor, tachycardia, flow murmur, hyperdynamic circulation
Symptoms: restless leg, breathlessness, palpitations, fatigue, tinnitus
Why might someone that’s unwell have low serum iron levels?
iron is stored away to protect it from bacteria because bacteria feed off iron
What are the causes of iron deficiency?
Most common cause of anaemia worlwide
In men and post menopausal women = GI malignancy until proven otherwise
1) poor intake - diet
2) poor absorption- coeliac disease, CD
3) Increased requirement - pregnancy
4) iron loss - bleeding
- GI: cancer, angiodysplasia, ulcers, gastritis, infection
- menorrhagia
- urinary
How do you diagnose iron deficiency?
History and exam: diet, bleeding
FBC and film: microcytic hypochromic anaemia, target cells, pencil cells
Ferritin (measure of iron stores): low in iron deficiency, raised with inflammation
Iron studies: serum iron, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity