Anemia Flashcards
class:
Indications:
MOA:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Max dose:
Contraindications:
Warnings:
Side Effects:
Monitoring:
Pearls/Notes:
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
class:
Indications:
MOA:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Max dose:
Contraindications:
Warnings:
Side Effects:
Monitoring:
Pearls/Notes:
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
What is anemia?
Anemia is defined as: a decrease in ___________
hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct) concentrations below the normal range for age and gender
what is the normal range for (Hgb or Hb) in:
For Females
For Males
For Females: (12-16 g/dL)
For Males: (13.5-18 g/dL)
what is the normal range for Hct in:
For Females
For Males
For Females: (36-46%)
For Males: ( 38-50%)
Hemoglobin (Hgb):
- is an iron rich protein found in red blood cells.
- its main purpose is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues
RBCs are formed in the ________, where they take up ______________ before being released into the circulation as immature RBCs, known as ____________.
After 1-2 days these RBCs then mature into __________ which have a lifespan of about ___________.
The mature red blood cells are removed from circulation by ___________
bone marrow
Hgb & iron
reticulocytes
erythrocytes
120 days
macrophages, mainly in the spleen
Anemia can occur a number of different ways which includes:
-
-
- impaired red blood cell production
- increased red blood cell destruction (hemolysis)
- blood loss
- nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12, folate, iron)
- can occur as a complication of another medical disorder like chronic kidney disease or a malignancy
A decrease in Hgb or RBC volume results in ___
decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
A decreased oxygen supply can cause ischemic damage to many organs. In chronic anemia, the heart tries to compensate for the low oxygen by pumping faster (tachycardia). This can increase the mass of the ventricular wall (hypertrophy) and lead to heart failure.
When anemia becomes prolonged, the lack of oxygen in the blood can lead to classic symptoms:
- fatigue
- weakness
- shortness of breath
- exercise intolerance
- headache
- dizziness
- anorexia
- pallor “an unhealthy pale appearance”
If anemia becomes severe (like with acute blood loss), symptoms can be:
chest pain, palpitations, /tachycardia, fainting
With Iron deficiency anemia, some symptoms which can develop include:
- Glossitis (an inflamed sore tongue)
- koilonychias (thin, concave, spoon-shaped nails)
- pica (cravings and eating non-foods such as chalk or clay or ice)
With vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, patients can present with ___
neurologic symptoms, including peripheral neuropathies, visual disturbances and/or psychiatric symptoms.
Vitamin B12 is also known as ______
Cobalamin
The type and cause of anemia CANNOT be determined based on ____.
The __________, which reflects the size or average blood volume of RBCs, can help determine the type of anemia and the possible underlying cause.
signs and symptoms alone.
(MCV) Mean Corpuscular Volume
What is the normal range for (MCV) Mean Corpuscular Volume?
80-100 fL
What does it mean when the MCV is < 80 fL?
microcytic anemia, red blood cells are smaller than normal. This is due to iron deficiency.
What does it mean when the MCV is > 100 fL?
macrocytic anemia, red blood cells are bigger than normal. This is due to vitamin B12 deficiency OR folate (vitamin B9) deficiency.
Red Blood Cell production is dependent on ________ and ______
erythropoietin, which is a hormone produced in the kidneys.
iron
reticulocytes are __________
immature red blood cells
Vitamin B12 is required for enzyme reactions involving _______
methylmalonic acid & homocysteine
A reticulocyte count measures ___________
What is the normal range for Reticulocyte Count?
the production of immature RBCs being made by the bone marrow.
(0.5%-2.5%)
When is the reticulocyte count higher than normal?
the reticulocyte count is elevated in acute blood loss (which can occur due to some trauma) or hemolysis.
When is the reticulocyte count lower than normal?
the reticulocyte count is decreased in untreated anemia due to iron, folate, or B12 deficiency and with bone marrow suppression.
What is the normal range for Vitamin B12?
> 200pg/mL
What is the normal range for folate (folic acid/vitamin B9)?
5-25 mcg/L
What medications can decrease the Vitamin B12 level?
PPIs
metformin
colchicine
chloramphenicol
what medications can decrease the folate level?
-phenytoin/fosphentoin
- phenobarbital
- primidone
- methotrexate
-Bactrim
For anemia, diagnosis of the underlying problem is important because___________
patients will present with similar symptoms, but the cause may be very different.
Dietary Iron is available in 2 forms:
Heme iron (found in meat and seafood)
non-heme iron (found in nuts, beans, vegetables, and fortified grains, such as cereals)
Which Dietary Iron is more readily absorbed?
Heme iron
How can one increase the absorption of non-heme iron?
consuming vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Causes of Iron deficiency anemia, include:
- iron poor diets (vegetables, vegan diets), malnutrition, disease related (dementia)
- blood loss (acute hemorrhage, Chronic (heavy menses, peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease), drug induced (NSAIDs, steroids, antiplatelets/anticoagulants)
- decreased iron absorption (High gastric pH) from PPis, GI diseases (celiac disease, gastric bypass)
- increased iron requirements (pregnancy, lactation)
With Iron deficiency anemia, the iron studies (iron panel) has 4 components:
-
-
- serum iron (which is usually low), serum iron is transported via transferrin, so is bound to it.
- serum ferritin (which is low), these are iron stores
- transferrin saturation (TSAT) (is low), this is the amount of transferrin binding sites occupied by iron. “Meaning the % of binding sites that iron is binding to is low”
- total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (is increased), this is the amount of transferrin binding sites available to bind iron or unbound sites. “Meaning this is the % of binding sites, the potential of binding sites, that iron is NOT bound too, which is high”
The Treatment for Iron Deficiency Anemia:
oral iron: 1st line
- 100-200mg elemental iron daily “dosing is based on ELEMENTAL iron”
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Ferrous gluconate
Ferrous Sulfate
Ferrous Sulfate, dried
Ferrous fumarate
Carbonyl iron, polysaccharide iron complex, ferric maltol
Ferrous gluconate = 12%
Ferrous Sulfate = 20%
Ferrous Sulfate, dried = 30%
Ferrous fumarate = 33%
Carbonyl iron, polysaccharide iron complex, ferric maltol = 100%
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Ferrous gluconate
12% elemental iron
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Ferrous Sulfate
20% elemental iron
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Ferrous Sulfate, dried
30% elemental iron
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Ferrous fumarate
33% elemental iron
Iron is a polyvalent ____
cation
class:
Indications:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Boxed Warnings:
- *Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years old; keep iron out of reach of children; in case of an accidental overdose, go to the emergency department or call a poison control center immediately (even if asymptomatic)
Contraindications:
hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, hemosiderosis
Warnings:
Side Effects:
- *constipation (dose-related), *dark and tarry stools, nausea, stomach upset
Monitoring:
- Hgb, iron studies, RBC indices, reticulocyte count
Pearls/Notes:
- to relieve GI upset patient can take with food. Food does decrease its absorption. Preferably want patient to take on an empty stomach, this is best for absorption. A stool softener (docusate) is often recommended to prevent iron induced constipation.
- An acidic environment increases irons absorption
- Sustained-release forms or EC forms of iron are NOT recommended. These agents release later on in the GI tract in a more alkaline environment, they move past the most acidic environment “the stomach” and release further downstream.
- Antidote for iron overdose is deferoxamine (Desferal)
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
-PPI & H2 receptor antagonists will increase pH, so iron absorption will decrease.
- Antacids, H2 receptor antagonists and PPIs decrease iron absorption. Take iron 2 hours before or 4 hours after Antacids
Iron decreases absorption of:
- tetracyclines & quinolones
(take iron 2-4 hours before or 4-8 hours after) - levodopa, methyldopa, *levothyroxine, cefdinir
(separate from iron by 2-4 hours) - oral bisphosphonates:
(take iron 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate or 1 hour after ibandronate)
What is the treatment goal for iron deficiency anemia?
1g/dL increase in Hgb every 2-3 weeks
**” we want to increase serum Hgb by 1g/dL every 2-3 weeks; continue treatment for 3-6 months after anemia has resolved until iron stores return to normal”
What is the treatment dose for oral iron therapy in iron deficiency anemia?
*recommended dose: 100-200mg of Elemental Iron per day
FeroSul
class:
Indications:
MOA:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Max dose:
Contraindications:
Warnings:
Side Effects:
Monitoring:
Pearls/Notes:
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Dosing: *325mg (65mg elemental iron) PO daily to TID
Pearls/Notes:
- most commonly prescribed and least effective
- 20% of drug is elemental iron in oral products
ferrous sulfate
Indications:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Boxed Warnings:
- *Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years old; keep iron out of reach of children; in case of an accidental overdose, go to the emergency department or call a poison control center immediately (even if asymptomatic)
Contraindications:
hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, hemosiderosis
Warnings:
Side Effects:
- *constipation (dose-related), *dark and tarry stools, nausea, stomach upset
Monitoring:
- Hgb, iron studies, RBC indices, reticulocyte count
Pearls/Notes:
- to relieve GI upset patient can take with food. Food does decrease its absorption. Preferably want patient to take on an empty stomach, this is best for absorption. A stool softener (docusate) is often recommended to prevent iron induced constipation.
- An acidic environment increases irons absorption
- Sustained-release forms or EC forms of iron are NOT recommended. These agents release later on in the GI tract in a more alkaline environment, they move past the most acidic environment “the stomach” and release further downstream.
- Antidote for iron overdose is deferoxamine (Desferal)
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
-PPI & H2 receptor antagonists will increase pH, so iron absorption will decrease.
- Antacids, H2 receptor antagonists and PPIs decrease iron absorption. Take iron 2 hours before or 4 hours after Antacids
Iron decreases absorption of:
- tetracyclines & quinolones
(take iron 2-4 hours before or 4-8 hours after) - levodopa, methyldopa, *levothyroxine, cefdinir
(separate from iron by 2-4 hours) - oral bisphosphonates:
(take iron 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate or 1 hour after ibandronate)
Fer-In-Sol
class:
Indications:
MOA:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Max dose:
Contraindications:
Warnings:
Side Effects:
Monitoring:
Pearls/Notes:
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
Indications:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Boxed Warnings:
- *Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years old; keep iron out of reach of children; in case of an accidental overdose, go to the emergency department or call a poison control center immediately (even if asymptomatic)
Contraindications:
hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, hemosiderosis
Warnings:
Side Effects:
- *constipation (dose-related), *dark and tarry stools, nausea, stomach upset
Monitoring:
- Hgb, iron studies, RBC indices, reticulocyte count
Pearls/Notes:
- to relieve GI upset patient can take with food. Food does decrease its absorption. Preferably want patient to take on an empty stomach, this is best for absorption. A stool softener (docusate) is often recommended to prevent iron induced constipation.
- An acidic environment increases irons absorption
- Sustained-release forms or EC forms of iron are NOT recommended. These agents release later on in the GI tract in a more alkaline environment, they move past the most acidic environment “the stomach” and release further downstream.
- Antidote for iron overdose is deferoxamine (Desferal)
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
-PPI & H2 receptor antagonists will increase pH, so iron absorption will decrease.
- Antacids, H2 receptor antagonists and PPIs decrease iron absorption. Take iron 2 hours before or 4 hours after Antacids
Iron decreases absorption of:
- tetracyclines & quinolones
(take iron 2-4 hours before or 4-8 hours after) - levodopa, methyldopa, *levothyroxine, cefdinir
(separate from iron by 2-4 hours) - oral bisphosphonates:
(take iron 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate or 1 hour after ibandronate)
Slow Fe
class:
Indications:
MOA:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Max dose:
Contraindications:
Warnings:
Side Effects:
Monitoring:
Pearls/Notes:
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
What is the % of elemental iron in oral products having:
*160mg (50mg elemental iron) PO daily to TID
- 30% of drug dose is elemental iron
ferrous sulfate dried
Indications:
Dosage forms:
Dosing:
Boxed Warnings:
- *Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years old; keep iron out of reach of children; in case of an accidental overdose, go to the emergency department or call a poison control center immediately (even if asymptomatic)
Contraindications:
hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, hemosiderosis
Warnings:
Side Effects:
- *constipation (dose-related), *dark and tarry stools, nausea, stomach upset
Monitoring:
- Hgb, iron studies, RBC indices, reticulocyte count
Pearls/Notes:
- to relieve GI upset patient can take with food. Food does decrease its absorption. Preferably want patient to take on an empty stomach, this is best for absorption. A stool softener (docusate) is often recommended to prevent iron induced constipation.
- An acidic environment increases irons absorption
- Sustained-release forms or EC forms of iron are NOT recommended. These agents release later on in the GI tract in a more alkaline environment, they move past the most acidic environment “the stomach” and release further downstream.
- Antidote for iron overdose is deferoxamine (Desferal)
Drug-Drug/Food interactions:
-PPI & H2 receptor antagonists will increase pH, so iron absorption will decrease.
- Antacids, H2 receptor antagonists and PPIs decrease iron absorption. Take iron 2 hours before or 4 hours after Antacids
Iron decreases absorption of:
- tetracyclines & quinolones
(take iron 2-4 hours before or 4-8 hours after) - levodopa, methyldopa, *levothyroxine, cefdinir
(separate from iron by 2-4 hours) - oral bisphosphonates:
(take iron 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate or 1 hour after ibandronate)