anaemia part 1 Flashcards
what causes anaemia?
lower haemoglobin than normal levels
what may cause anaemia?
inability to make heam or globlin chains
how can haemoglobin be reduced?
-reduced production of haemoglobin
-increased demand for haemoglobin
-increased loss of haemoglobin
what is the MCV? and what does it indicate in anaemia ?
mean cell volume- size of RBCs can indicate the cause of anaemia (low/high MCV)
in what two ways can haem production be affected?
-bone marrow problem
-reduced no of constituents that form haem (iron, folic acid, b12)
how do bone marrow problems reduce haem?
bone marrow unable to make enough RBCs to package haem
what are iron, folate and b12 collectively known as?
haematinics
what may cause low iron?
-coeliac disease
-GI bleeding
-achrlohyrdria (reduced acid)
what is iron found in?
meat
leafy greens
what may cause low folic acid?
coeliac disease
low dietary intake (leafy greens)
what can low folic acid cause in pregnancy?
neural tube defect
what may cause low b12?
-reduced intrinsic factor
-low dietary intake-vegans
-chrons disease (low absorption-ileum)
what causes abnormal globin chains?
genetic changes
what is alpha haemoglobin?
made throughout life
what is beta haemoglobin?
made after birth
what is gamma haemoglobin?
made before birth- to remove 02 from maternal circulation to foetus (decreases after birth)
what are the two types of abnormal globin chains?
thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia
what does thalassaemia cause?
difficult formation of alpha and beta globin chains
what does sickle cell anaemia cause?
ONLY IF REDUCED 02 LEVELS:
-RBCs will change shape and cant pass through capillaries
-leads to ischaemia
-may lead to tissue necrosis/pain
