Anemia 2 Flashcards
What level of Hb defines anemia in adults (men, women, pregnant women)?
Men
What is the most common cause of B12 deficiency? Folate?
How long does it take for B12 deficiency to present? Folate?
What is the treatment for B12 deficiency? Folate?
What is the chemical released by the kidneys that stimulate bone marrow production of RBCs?
EPO
What are the three measures that define anemia?
Low Hb
Low Hct
Low RBC
High hb = ?
Polycythemia
HIgh HCT = ?
Polycythemia
High RBC count = ?
Thalassemia
What is the equation for the absolute reticulocyte count?
(RBC count)*(% reticulocytes) /100
Under what number can reticulocytosis be excluded (for the reticulocyte count)?
What are the three ways in which we classifty anemias?
Onset (acute vs chronic)
Pathophysiology
Morphology
What are the two different categories of pathophysology for anemia?
Hyporoliferative
Proliferative
What is the usual cause of macrocytic anemia?
Defect in the maturation of RBCs
Normocytic anemia is usually caused by what?
Decreased production or increased destruction
Micro or macrocytic anemia: iron deficiency?
Micro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: anemia of chronic disease
micro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: thalessemias?
Micro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: siderblastic anemia?
Micro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: B12 deficiency
Macro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: folic acid deficiency
Macro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: drug related?
macro
Micro or macrocytic anemia: hypothyroidism
Normo
Micro or macrocytic anemia: liver disease
Normo
Micro or macrocytic anemia: alcoholism
normo
Micro or macrocytic anemia: myelodysplastic syndrome
Normo
What are the three general causes of intrinsic hemolytic anemia?
Membrane defects
Enzymatic defects
Hemoglobinopathies
What are the three general causes of extrinsic hemolytic anemias?
Autoimmune
Splenomegaly
Infections
What is the PMN findings for megaloblastic anemias?
Hypersegmented neutrophils
What are the sources for B12? Folate?
B12 = meat Folate = green leafy vegetables
Where is B12 absorbed? Folate?
B12 = ileuem Folate = proximal jejunum
What are the daily requirements for B12?
1-3 mcg
What are the daily requirements of folate?
50-100 mcg
How long does it take to become folate deficient? B12?
Folate = 3-4 months B12 = 3-4 years
Which has a more rapid onset: B12 deficiency d/t malabsorption or dietary deficieny
Malabsorption
What are the two reactions that B12 is necessary in?
Methionine synthesis
Conversion of methylmalonic acid to succinyl-CoA
What intestinal disease is known to lead to B12 deficiency?
Crohn’s
What are the two drugs that can lead to B12 deficiency?
Metformin
PPIs
B12 deficiency that presents a few weeks after birth = ?
Congential transcobalamin deficiency
B12 deficiency that presents at birth?
Congenital methylmalonic acidemia
Why are parethesias common in B12 deficiencies?
Demyelination
True or false: babinski’s sign may be present with B12 deficiency
True
What happens to the reticulocyte count with B12 deficiencies?
Lower
What are the histological characteristics of PMNs in b12 deficiencies?
Hypersegmented (may lobes)
What is the treatment for B12 deficiency?
B12 1000mcg IM/SQ weekly, then monthly
What mineral must be monitored carefully during the treatment for B12 deficiency?
K (hypokalemia)
How long does it take Hb levels to return to normal following treatment with B12?
2 months
What causes the paresthesias with B12 deficiency?
Demyelination of the dorsal colums/ML pathways
Pts who have undergone what surgical procedure require B12 supplementation?
Gastrectomy
What is the most common cause of pernicous anemia?
Autoimmune attack against parietal cells
What are the tests for pernicous anemia now-a-days?
Parietal cell / IF antibody test
What would you expect gastric serum levels to be in a patient with pernicious anemia? Serum pepsinogen levels?
Gastrin high
Pepsinogen low
What would a biopsy of a stomch of a pt with pernicious anemia show?
Death of parietal cells, repalced with mucus cells
Borderline B12 levels is accompanied by what lab values in a pt with subclinical B12 deficiency?
Elevated Homocysteine /methylmalonic acid levels
What is the most common cause of folate deficiency anemia?
Inadequate dietary intake
Folate deficiency signs/symptoms are the same as B12, except for what?
B12 has neurological symptoms, while Folate does not
What are the signifiant lab findings with folate deficiency?
Low Hb
Low serum RBC/folate level
What is the methylmalonic acid level in pts with folate deficiency?
Normal
What is the treatment for folate deficiency?
1-5 mg/day oral folate
How long does it take for folate to reach normal levels?
8 weeks
What are the homocysteine levels in folate deficiency?
High
What are the two autoimmune causes of aplastic anemia?
idiopathic
SLE
What is the congenital cause of aplastic anemia?
Defected in telomere length maintenance
What are the toxins that can cause aplastic anemia? (3)
Benzene
Toluene
Insecticides
What is the virus that can cause aplastic anemia in the post-viral state?
Hepatitis
What treatment can cause aplastic anemia?
Chemotherapy
What are the CBC findings with aplastic anemia?
Panytopenia
What are the signs/symptoms of aplastic anemia? (4)
Immune suppression
Fatigue
Petechiae
HSM
True or false: LA / bone pain can be symptoms of aplastic anemia
False– think osteosarcoma if these are present
True or false: reticulocytoenia is always present with aplastic anemia
True
What is the test that you should always order for patients with aplastic anemia?
Bone marrow biopsy
What is the treatment for mild aplastic anemia? Severe?
Symptomatic treatment for mild
Bone marrow transplant for severe
What are the methylmalonic acid levels in B12 deficiency? Folate deficiency?
b12 = high Foalte = low
What are the serum folate levels in folate deficiency? B12/
B12 = normal Folate = low
What are the CBC findings for aplastic anemia?
Pancytopenia