Anemia Flashcards
Define anemia
a reduction in one of the following components of the CBC: Hgb, Hct, RBC count
what is hematocrit?
percent of a sample of whole blood occupied by intact RBCs
What is normal Hgb for men vs. women?
(15.7 +/- 1.7) (13.8 +/- 1.5)
What Hgb is sufficient for people to live off of?
5
What is the reticulocyte count?
reflects rate of RBC production
What are the mean cell volume and RDW used for?
classifies the type of anemia
What is the first lab to respond to Tx of anemia?
reticulocyte count
True or false: symptoms of anemia are less likely if it evolved over a long period of time
TRUE
what are symptoms of anemia?
dyspnea at rest, fatigue, bounding pulses, palpitations
What is sxs onset of anemia dependent on?
compensatory mechanisms, related to O2 delivery and volume (if marked bleeding)
can anemia cause death?
yes, via CKD, malignancy, HF, older adults who are hospitalized
What can cause anemia?
decreased RBC rpoduction, increased RBC destruction, blood loss (MCC)
what is the lifespan of a RBC?
100 days
what are the morphological causes of anemia?
alterations in RBC size (MCV) and reticulocyte response
define macrocytic anemia
MCV >100/fL
Define normocytic anemia
MCV 81-99fL
Define microcytic anemia
MCV <80fL
Causes of microcytic anemia
iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease
Causes of normocytic anemia
acute blood loss, hemolytic anemia, anemia of chronic disease
Causes of macrocytic anemia
B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, drug induced bone marrow toxicity
What is important to ask yourself when evaluating an anemic pt?
are they bleeding? Is there evidence of increased RBC destruction? Is the bone marrow suppressed? Is the pt iron deficient or deficient in folat or B12?
causes of iron deficiency anemia
diet (children, failure to absorb iron salts), increased utilization (pregnancy, adolescent growth), atransferrinemia, failure to utilize (lead poisoning, chronic disease), blood loss
developmental stages of iron deficiency anemia
depletion of iron stores, decreased ferritin, increased transferrin, fall in serum iron, development of normocytic normochromic anemia, development of microcytic hypochromic anemia
What are the lab values of iron deficiency anemia?
everything decreased, TIBC increased
How is iron deficiency anemia treated?
any iron salt, best place is red meat
what is the recommended daily intake of iron?
>200mg of elemental Fe/day
How much Fe is absorbed from iron salts?
5-10%, changes with bodily needs
ADR of iron
nausea, epigastric discomfort, abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea, black stool