Anemia Flashcards
What is anemia?
decreased RBCs, Hgb, and Hct
What is neutropenia?
decreased neutrophils
What is thrombocytopenia?
decreased platelets
What is a decrease in all cellular components of the bone marrow caused by bone marrow suppression?
pancytopenia
What is erythropoiesis?
process to maintain sufficient oxygen delivery to tissues
What 3 products are essential for production of erythrocytes?
iron, vitamins (B12), and hormones (inflammatory process- hepcidin)
What is the production of red blood cells dependent on?
release of erythropoietin from the kidney in response to blood cell oxygen demand
What does reticulocyte count indicate?
RBC production rate and EPO response
3 RBC indices
MCV, MCH, MCHC
If a patient has a low MCV, what do the RBCs look like?
microcytic
How is anemia clinically demonstrated?
decreased RBCs, Hematocrit, and Hgb
5 main reasons for decreased RBC production
iron deficiency, pernicious anemia, aplastic anemia, chemotherapy induced anemia, and anemia of inflammation
If a patient presents with a severe burn, and labs show that the patient has low H&H and low RBCs, what is this patient presenting with? Why?
hemolytic anemia. There is a major loss in blood, and the burn destroys RBCs, and vessels that contain RBCs
What should be done if a patient is experiencing extreme blood loss?
stop the bleed, administer 2 units of NS or Lactated Ringers, and then hang blood
Why is it important to give a patient more blood when blood loss occurs, instead of just increasing the volume of the blood with NS or LR?
The fluids will help increase BP, but will dilute the blood, and there is still a lack of oxygen carrying cells when only fluids are administered, and hypoxia will continue
Why would someone have low RBCs after blood loss? (4)
hemorrhage (trauma, post-op, anticoagulation), chronic bleeding (colitis, cirrhosis, colon cancer, diverticulitis), heavy menstrual cycle, frequent lab sampling
Why is diaphoresis often seen in patient with blood loss anemia?
low blood pressure, since there is a lower volume of blood, and this will stimulate the SNS
What is the genotype for a person that has sickle cell anemia?
homozygous for the Hgb S gene
When will a patient with sickle cell anemia have normal hemoglobin function/shape?
if the cells are adequately oxygenated
What happens when a patient with sickle cell anemia has a drop in PaO2 and SaO2?
the Hgb S will form a fibrous polymer and this realignment of the polymers will form a sickle shape
What is the RBC lifespan of a sickle cell patient versus a normal RBC lifespan?
10-20 days instead of 120
What are the lab values indicative of sickle cell anemia?
decreased Hgb, Decreased platelets, and increased reticulocytes
