Anemia

Question 1

What is the commonly accepted definition of anemia, and what are the diagnostic criteria for males and females?

Answer 1

Anemia is typically defined as a reduced absolute number of circulating red blood cells. In practice, it is identified by a low hemoglobin concentration or a low hematocrit.

Anemia is diagnosed with a hemoglobin level of less than 120 grams per liter in females and less than 140 grams per liter in males.

Question 2

Explain how anemia is categorized using mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and provide the reference ranges for each category.

Answer 2

Anemia can be categorized based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), which measures the average size of red blood cells:

• Microcytic anemia: MCV less than 80 femtoliters
• Normocytic anemia: MCV between 80 to 100 femtoliters
• Macrocytic anemia: MCV greater than 100 femtoliters

Question 3

Causes of Microcytic Anemia**
Name three causes of microcytic anemia.

Answer 3

Causes of microcytic anemia include:
- Iron deficiency
- Chronic inflammatory disease
- Thalassemia

Question 4

Reticulocyte Count**
What does a high reticulocyte count indicate when diagnosing anemia, and what conditions might this suggest?

Answer 4

A high reticulocyte count indicates that the body is compensating for anemia, suggesting conditions such as hemolytic anemia or recent blood loss, where increased production of red blood cells is necessary to replace those that are lost or destroyed.

Question 5

Macrocytic Anemia and Blood Film**
What findings on a blood film are indicative of megaloblastic macrocytic anemia, and what are potential causes?

Answer 5

Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is indicated by the presence of large, immature red blood cells (megaloblasts) and hypersegmented neutrophils on a blood film. Causes include deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate and drug toxicity (e.g., methotrexate).

Question 6

List three mechanisms that can lead to anemia and provide an example for each.

Answer 6

• Decreased production of red blood cells: Chronic kidney disease (due to reduced erythropoietin production)
  
  • Blood loss: Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis): Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Question 7

Hemolytic Anemia Diagnosis**
What laboratory findings are typically seen in patients with hemolytic anemia?

Answer 7

In hemolytic anemia, laboratory findings typically include:
- Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
- High reticulocyte count
- Increased bilirubin levels (potentially causing jaundice)
- Low haptoglobin levels

Question 8

Common Symptoms of Anemia**
Provide four common clinical signs or symptoms of anemia.

Answer 8

Common signs and symptoms of anemia include:
- Pallor (including conjunctival pallor)
- Fatigue
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Scleral icterus (if hemolysis is present)

Question 9

Question 1: Definition of Anemia**
Anemia is most widely defined clinically by which of the following laboratory findings?
A) Elevated white blood cell count
B) Low platelet count
C) Low hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit
D) Elevated blood glucose level

Answer 9

*Answer:** C) Low hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit

Question 10

Hemoglobin Diagnostic Criteria**
What hemoglobin level is considered indicative of anemia in males?
A) Less than 140 grams per liter
B) Greater than 140 grams per liter
C) Less than 120 grams per liter
D) Greater than 120 grams per liter

Answer 10

*Answer:** A) Less than 140 grams per liter

Question 11

Question 3: Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) Classification**
Which of the following MCV ranges indicates macrocytic anemia?
A) Less than 80 femtoliters
B) 80 to 100 femtoliters
C) Greater than 100 femtoliters
D) 75 to 85 femtoliters

Answer 11

Answer: C) Greater than 100 femtoliters

Question 12

Causes of Microcytic Anemia**
Which of the following is NOT a common cause of microcytic anemia?
A) Iron deficiency
B) Thalassemia
C) Vitamin B12 deficiency
D) Chronic inflammatory disease

Answer 12

Answer: C) Vitamin B12 deficiency

Question 13

Mechanism of Normocytic Anemia**
A high reticulocyte count in normocytic anemia is typically suggestive of which of the following conditions?
A) Aplastic anemia
B) Acute blood loss
C) Chronic kidney disease
D) Iron deficiency anemia

Answer 13

Answer: B) Acute blood loss

Question 14

*Question 6: Megaloblastic Anemia Causes**
Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is commonly associated with deficiency of which vitamin?
A) Vitamin D
B) Vitamin B12
C) Vitamin C
D) Vitamin K

Answer 14

Answer: B) Vitamin B12

Question 15

Question 7: Hemolytic Anemia Indicators**
Which of the following lab findings is typically NOT associated with hemolytic anemia?
A) Low reticulocyte count
B) Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
C) High bilirubin levels
D) Low haptoglobin levels

Answer 15

Answer: A) Low reticulocyte count

Question 16

Question 8: Symptoms of Anemia**
Which of the following is a common symptom a patient might present with if they have anemia?
A) Hypertension
B) Bradycardia
C) Fatigue
D) Hyperactivity

Answer 16

Answer: C) Fatigue