Anemia Flashcards
Anemia
- lack of normally formed and properly functioning RBCs
- impairs the bodies ability to oxygenate tissues
Hemoglobin
- protein that binds oxygen in the RBC
- low values will indicate anemia (<37g/dL)
Hematocrit
- measure of the volume of total blood made up by RBC (%)
Red blood cell Count
- number of RBC in a given volume (# per mm3)
Mean Corpuscular Volume
- average volume of a RBC (measured in fL)
- will indicate the size of the RBC
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin
- mass of the Hemoglobin within each RBC (pg)
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
- concentration of hemoglobin in a volume of RBCs (g/dL)
- will indicate the chromicity of the RBCs
Reticulocyte count
- amount of reticulocytes in the blood
- immature erythrocytes
- can show the replacement of new blood
Anisocytosis
- RBCs that are not the same size
Poikilocytosis
- misshapen RBCs
Polychromasia
- multiple color patterns within cell
- indicates younger cells
Hypochromia
- cells will have less color
Microcytic
- small cells
- decreased levels of MCV
Macrocytic
- large cells
- elevated MCV level
What are the causes of microcytic anemia?
- Abnormalities of iron metabolism (majority)
- Abnormalities of globin metabolism
- Abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism
What are some types of abnormalities of iron metabolism?
- inadequate iron intake
- chronic blood loss
- anemia of chronic disease - (30% are microcytic) impaired iron flow into RBC, decreased RBC, in sufficient erythropoietin
What are some types of globin synthesis?
- thalassemias
- hemoglobin E
What are some types of porphyrin synthesis?
- lead intoxication
- sideroblastic anemias
Ferritin
- storage form of iron
- when low indicates iron deficiency
- is either normal or increased in anemia’s of chronic disease
In what situations may ferritin levels be falsely elevated?
- chronic diseases
- surgical procedures
- febrile illnesses
- liver necrosis
What are some characteristics of serum iron levels?
- has diurnal variation (highest in morning)
- decreases indicate anemia in both chronic disease and iron deficiency
What are the characteristics of iron binding capacity?
- amount of iron binding to hemeoglobin
- decreases are result of chronic diseases
- increases are result of iron deficiency
What are the causes of normocytic Anemia?
- chronic disease (majority)
- acute blood loss
- marrow replacement
- aplastic anemia
- renal failure
- hemolytic anemia
What are disorders associated with normocytic anemia and an increased reticulocyte count?
- acute blood loss
- hemolytic anemia
What are disorders associated with normocytic anemia and a normal/decreased reticulocyte count?
- anemia of chronic disease
- renal failure
- aplastic anemia
- cancer
What are the two types of macrocytic anemia?
- megaloblastic
- non-megaloblastic
What are the causes of a megaloblastic anemia?
- folate or B12 deficiency
- inherited disorders
- drug induced (antiretrovirals and immunosuppressants)
What are the causes of non-megaloblastic anemia?
- liver disease
- hypothyroidism
