Anemia Flashcards
What is Anemia?
- Decreased RBC or Hbg
What are some of the signs and symptoms of Anemia?
- SOB, Chest Pain,Tachycardia, Fatigue, Paleness, Asymptomatic
What are some of the important bloodwork values that we should know for Anemia?
- RBD: 4.5-5.5 x10^6 u/L [M] & 4.1-4.9x10^6 cells/uL [F]
- Hgb: 13.5-18 g/L [M] & 12-16 g/dL [F]
- Hct: 38-50% [M] & 36-46% [F]
- MCV: 80-100 mm^3
- MCH: 26-34 pg/cell
- MCHC: 31-37 g/dl
- RDW: 11.5-14.5%
Is Iron Supplementation the first line treatment in Anemia?
- NO - it depends on the case
What are some of the causes for Anemia?
- Decreased RBC production [chronic diseases or nutritional deficiencies]
- Increased RBD destructinon [Drugs or Sickle Cell]
- Increased RBC Loss [blood loss or NSAIDS/ASA]
What are the classifications of Anemia?
- MICRO: MCV < 80 [Iron deficiency, Sickle Cell]
- NORMAL: MCV 80-100 [Chronic Disease, Blood Loss]
- MACRO: MCV > 100 [Folic Acid, B12]
What is the classification of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Decreased Hgb
- Decreased MCV
- Increased or Normal RDW
- Decreased Ferritin
- Increased TIBC
- Normal or Decreased Iron
- Decreased TSAT
What are some of the important values for Iron Studies in Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Ferritin: 15-200ng/mL [Really <45]
- Iron: 40-160 mcg/dL
- Transferrin: 200-260 mg/dL
- TIBC: 250-400 mcg/dL
- TSAT: 20-50%
What is important to know about Ferritin within the Iron Studies in Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Anything <45 really is a deficiency
- Inflammation or Chronic Disease gives a false positive
What are some of the causes for Iron Deficieny Anemia?
- Blood Loss [menstration, donating]
- Decreased Absorption
- Vegetarian Diet [Heme from meat or Non-Heme from dairy or plants]
- Increased Consumption [Pregnancy]
Can drugs cause Iron Deficieny Anemia?
- NO - Drugs dont really cause any iron anemia
What are some of the addintional Signs and Symptoms ONLY for Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Spoon-shaped Nails
- Inflamed Tongue
- Pica [craving things with NO nutritional value]
What is the treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- ORAL Iron [elemental iron]
- Either 65mg every other day OR 120-200mg per day
- 3-6 months to replete stores
When wouldn’t Oral Iron be used in Iron Deficiency Anemia and what would you use?
- If they cant tolerate, cant absorb, ESRD, HF
- Would switch to IV
Why might every other day dosing be better in Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Hepcidin: iron-regulating peptide in the liver that helps with absorption and transfering
- within 48 Hours Hepcidin normalizes
What are some of the Oral Irons that could be used in Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Ferrous Fumarte 300mg [100mg - elemental]
- Ferrous Sulfate 325mg [65mg - elemental]
- Ferrous Gluconate 300mg [30mg - elemental]
What are some important counseling points for Oral Iron in Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Increased Absorption on empty stomach
- Stomach Upset - add food?
- Increased Absorption with Vit C
- Constipation
- Dark Stools
What is the classifaction of Vitamin B12 Deficiceny Anemia?
- Decreased Hgb
- Increased MCV
- Increased RDW
- Normal Ferritin/TIBC
- Normal Iron/TSAT
- Decreased B12 [<200pg/mL]
- Increased Homocysteine
What are some of the causes of Vitmain B12 Deficiency Anemia?
- Diet [Vegans/Vegetarain, Alcoholism]
- Decreased Absorption
- Medications [PPIs, Metformin]
- Pernicious Anemia [Rare]
What is important to know about Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
- Our bodies CANNOT make it; have to get from out diet
- Could cause Neurologic issues [Weakness, Numbness, Cognitive, Dysfunction]
What are some of the treatment options for Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia?
- Oral B12 Replacement [1000-2000mcg/day] - BEST OPTION
- IM/SubQ Replacement 100-1000mcg
What are some of the classifications for Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia?
- Decreased Hgb
- Increased MCV
- Increased RDW
- Normal Ferritin/TIBC
- Normal Iron/TSAT
- Decreased Folate
- Increased homocysteine
What are some of the causes of Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia?
- Malabsorption
- Malnutrition [Green Vegatablesm Orange Juice, Cereal, Flour, Milk]
- Alcoholism
- Medications
What are some of the Medications that could cause Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia?
- Methotrexate
- Phenytoin
- Sulfasalazine
- SMZ/TMP
What are some fo the treatment options for Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia?
- Oral Folic Acid 1-5 mg daily
- IV not really used
- Water Soluble Vitamin
What is important to know about Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia?
- ALL flour was enriched with Folic Acid to help prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy
- ALWAY CHECK B12 TOO
What are some of the common Chronic Diseases that could cause Anemia?
- CKD
- CHF
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
What is the way that CKD could cause Anemia?
- Erythropoietin is made in the kidenys which stimulates the production of RBC
- Anemia = Decreased Erythropoietin, Chronic Inflammation, Nutritional Issues
What are some treatment options for CKD in Anemia?
- AVOID blood transfusion
- Correct Nutritional Deficiencies
- ESAs
What is important to know about Blood Transfusion in Anemia of CKD?
- AVOID –> risk of making antibodies
What is important to know about Correcting Nutritional Deficiences in Anemia of CKD?
- Give Folate/B12
- ORAL Iron in Stages 3-5 & IV in Hemodialysis
- Target is TSAT of 30%
What is important to know about ESA in Anemia of CKD?
- Helps prevent blood transfusion
- DO NOT target NORMAL Hbg
- Hgb NEEDS to be >10
- Can cause cardio issues
What are some of the treatment options for Heart Failure in Anemia?
- IV Iron if NYHA Class II/III HF AND Iron Deficiency [Ferritin <100 OR 100-300 if TSAT <20%]
- ORAL & Erythropoitein have not benefit
What is the way that we treat Blood Loss Anemia?
- Stop the bleeding
- Tranfuse RBC when Hgb < 7 [1 unit = 250 mg iron]
What is Hemolytic Anemia?
- RBC are destoryed before 120 days
What are the two types of Hemolytic Anemia?
- Inherted: Sickle Cell, G6PD Deficiency
- Acquired: Drug Induced
What is important to know about Sickle Cell Anemia?
- RBC are Sickle shaped = faster destruction
What is the way that are can treat Sickle Cell Anemia?
- Folic Acid 1mg [increased erythropoiesis]
- Blood Transfusions [might iron overload them]
- Hydroxyurea 10-15mg/kg/day –> MAX: 35mg/kg/day
- Immunizations
- Pain Control Acetaminophen, NSAIDS, Opioids
What are the Drug Induced Anemia Types?
- Aplastic
- Immune Hemolytic
- Oxidatvie [affects 6GPD deficiency]
- Megaloblastic