Anaemia (zero to finals) Flashcards
What is haemoglobin?
A protein found in red blood cells. Haemoglobin is responsible for picking up oxygen in the lungs and transporting it to the body’s cells.
Iron is essential in creating haemoglobin and forms part of it’s structure.
What is anaemia?
Defined as a low concentration of haemoglobin in the blood.
This is the consequence of an underlying disease, not a disease itself.
What is mean cell volume (MCV)?
Refers to the size of the red blood cells and is highly relevant in anaemic patients.
What are the normal haemoglobin and MCV ranges for men and women?
Haemoglobin:
Men: 130-180g/l
Women: 120-165g/l
MCV (mean cell volume):
Men: 80-100 femtolitres
Women: 80-100 femtolitres
What are the main 3 categories for anaemia and what are they based on?
Anaemia is divided into 3 main categories based on the MCV:
Microcytic anaemia (low MCV)
Normocytic anaemia (normal MCV)
Macrocytic anaemia (high MCV)
The mnemonic for remembering the causes of microcytic anaemia is “TAILS”, what does this stand for?
T – Thalassaemia
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
I – Iron deficiency anaemia
L – Lead poisoning
S – Sideroblastic anaemia
What is sideroblastic anaemia?
A disorder where the body produces enough iron but is unable to put it into the haemoglobin.
Why does anaemia of chronic disease often occur with chronic kidney disease, how is this treated?
Occurs due to reduced production of erythropoietin by the kidneys, the hormone responsible for stimulating red blood cell production.
Treatment is with erythropoietin.
What are the 3A’s and 2H’s for the causes of normocytic anaemia?
A – Acute blood loss
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
A – Aplastic anaemia
H – Haemolytic anaemia
H – Hypothyroidism
What are the 2 main types of macrocytic anaemia?
Can be normoblastic or megaloblastic
What does megaloblastic anaemia occur as a result of?
Megaloblastic anaemia results from impaired DNA synthesis, preventing the cells from dividing normally.
Rather than dividing, they grow into large, abnormal cells.
2 major causes of megaloblastic anaemia?
B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Main causes of normoblastic macrocytic anaemia?
Alcohol
Reticulocytosis (usually from haemolytic anaemia or blood loss)
Hypothyroidism
Liver disease
Drugs, such as azathioprine
What is reticulocytosis?
Reticulocytosis refers to an increased concentration of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells).
This happens when there is a rapid turnover of red blood cells, such as with haemolytic anaemia or blood loss.
What are the main generic symptoms of anaemia?
Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Headaches
Dizziness
Palpitations
Worsening of other conditions, such as angina, heart failure or peripheral arterial disease
What are some symptoms that are specific to iron-deficiency anaemia?
Pica (dietary cravings for abnormal things, such as dirt or soil)
Hair loss
What are generic signs of anaemia?
Pale skin
Conjunctival pallor
Tachycardia
Raised respiratory rate
What is koilonychia and what can it indicate?
Koilonychia refers to spoon-shaped nails and can indicate iron deficiency anaemia