Anemia Flashcards
What is the most common form of anemia?
normocytic
what is normocytic anemia due to?
- decreased production of RBCs ( ACD, aplastic anemia)
- increased destruction of RBCs (hemolysis, posthemorrhagic anemia)
- Uncompensated increased in plasma volume (pregnancy/fluid overload)
Describe hemolytic anemia:
RBCs are destroyed and removed from the bloodstream before their normal lifespan of 120 days. Bone marrow tries to increase RBC production, but it will not be able to match the losses. Homozygous sick cell is the most common cause of hemolytic normoctyic anemias in children.
How is hemolytic anemia classified?
Either intrinsic or extrinsic.
What are intrinsic examples of hemolytic anemia?
- membrane defects: hereditary spherocytosis
- glycolytic defects: pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Oxidation vunerability: G6PD deficieny
- Hemoglobinpathies (sickle cell syndrome)
What are some examples in extrinsic anemia?
- autoimmune
- HUS, DIC
- Infection
- hypersplenism
- burns
What are the signs and symptoms of a hemolytic anemia?
jaundice, fatigue, RUQ and LUQ pain
What will the labs show for hemolytic anemia?
Noromocytic, normal mcv increased retic normal or decreased haptoglobin increased total bilirubin increased serum LDH
How do you treat hemolytic anemia?
Treatment is based on the cause, may need a transfusion.
Describe aplastic anemia:
A condition of bone marrow failure that arises from suppression of or injury to the hematopoietic stem cell. The bone marrow:
- hypoplastic
- fails to produce mature blood cells
- panctyopenia develops
- no abnormal hematopoietic cells seen in blood or bone marrow
What will the labs show for aplastic anemia?
pancytopenia, normocytic RBCs, normal MCV, decreased retic
What is the cause of aplastic anemia?
- autoimmune
- radiation/chemo
- toxins
- drugs
- pregnancy
What are the signs/symptoms of aplastic anemia?
fatigue, weakness, bacterial and fungal infections (decreased neutrophils), skin bleeding (decreased platelets), pallor, purport, petechiae. THERE WILL BE NO BONE TENDERNESS!!!
What is the treatment for aplastic anemia?
EPO or myeloid growth factors, bone marrow transplant.
Describe Anemia of Chronic Disease:
it can be microcytic (<82) or normocytic (82-98). It should be suspected in a patient with a chronic infection or inflammatory process or malignant condition. It is the most common form of anemia in adults.
What are the signs/symptoms of ACD?
It should be suspected in those with a known chronic condition. Fatigue and weakness.
What will the labs show in ACD?
normocytic or microcytic RBCs, decreased retic, decreased serum iron, decreased TIBC, increased serum ferritin, increased ESR or CRP.