Anemia

Question 1

Define anemia

Answer 1

Reduces oxygen carrying capacity from insufficient hemoglobin and RBC mass within the vasculature

Question 2

Three broad causes of anemia

Answer 2

Loss
Destruction
Hypoplasia

Question 3

How long does an RBC live in circulation?

Answer 3

~ 7 weeks

Question 4

What are the clinical signs of anemia dependent on?

Answer 4

Chronicity and severity

Body adapts to anemia if given time to adjust

Question 5

T/F: Rapid blood loss cannot be confirmed with bloodwork

Answer 5

True - Hct and PCV are measuring the percentage of RBCs in your blood

In cases of acute blood loss, you are losing RBCs in equal proportion to plasma, so the total percentage of RBCs will remain the same

Question 6

Potential causes of acute blood loss anemia

Answer 6

Trauma
Coagulopathy
Cancer

Question 7

Potential causes of chronic blood loss anemia

Answer 7

Parasites
Ulcers
Cancer

Question 8

What is the most common type of hemolytic anemia?

Answer 8

Immune-mediated

Question 9

What are other potential causes of HA?

Answer 9

Infections
Oxidative damage
Toxins

Question 10

What might you expect the plasma to look like with extravascular hemolysis?

Answer 10

Icteric

Question 11

What might you expect the plasma to look like with intravascular hemolysis?

Answer 11

Red