Anemia Flashcards
Definition of anemia
Men - < 13. Women - < 12. Pregnancy women - < 11
What does CBC measure
Decreased Hct and Hgb
What does MCV measure
Mean corpuscular volume - measures size of RBC. Normal 80-100
What does MCHC measure
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration - measure how fully the RBC volume is filled with hemoglobin. Normal - 31-36
What does serum ferritin measure
Body’s major iron storage protein and correlates with total body iron stores. Normal 16-300 for men and 4-161 for women. Decreased with iron deficiency anemia
What is TIBC
Total iron binding capacity - Capacity to bind iron calculated from transferrin levels. Normal 250-460. Increased with iron deficiency anemia
What is a reticulocyte count
Immature RBC that are associated with RBC production. Normal 33-137. Decreased in iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease
Serum iron levels
Plasma iron concentration. Normal 50-175. Decreased in iron deficiency anemia
Types of microcytic anemias
MCV < 80. Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia
Types of normocytic anemias
MCV 80-100. Anemia of chronic disease. Sickle cell. Acute blood loss. Early iron deficiency anemia
Types of macrocytic anemias
MCV > 100. Vitamin B12 deficiency - pernicious anemia is most common form. Folate deficiency.
Most common causes of microcytic anemias
Men and post-menopausal women from chronic GI blood loss, menstruating women, and children from nutritional deficiencies. May be asymptomatic.
Common symptoms of microcytic anemias
Fatigue, weakness, dyspnea with exertion, and lightheadedness.
Medicine history of microcytic anemias
History of PICA. Medications including antacids, H2 blockers, PPIs, chronic NSAID use, chronic ASA use, use of zinc or manganese supplements.
History of pt with microcytic anemia
History of inflammatory bowel disease or gastric surgery. Family hx of bleeding disorders or colon cancer. Hx of smoking or alcohol intake.
Physical assessment of pt with microcytic anemia
Cannot be reliably diagnosed by clinical presentation. Abnormal physical findings usually found only with severe, chronic anemia. Pallor and poor cap refill, pale conjunctiva, angular stomatitis, atrophic glossitis, tachycardia, spoon-shaped nails, pale palmar creases, brittle nails, cold hands and feet.
Differentials of microcytic anemia
Thalassemia. Lead poisoning. Anemia of chronic disease
Diagnostics with microcytic anemia
Low H&H, low MCV & MCHC, low serum ferritin (most specific and one of first indices to change), high TIBC, low serum iron
Treatment of microcytic anemia
Identify and treat cause. Increase dietary iron. Oral iron supplement. Typical dosing 50-100 mg TID. Normal Hgb usually achieved in 2 months unless continued blood loss. Continue iron therapy for 6 months in severe deficiency. Recheck retic count in approximately 2 wks.
Education of microcytic anemia
Keep out of reach of children. GI upset. Take 2 hr apart from meals, antacids, calcium supplements, fluroquinolones, penicillins, tetracycline, thyroid meds. Increased absorption with vitamin C
Thalassemia
Hereditary. Characterized by reduction in synthesis of Hgb chains. Most common in Asian, African, and Mediterranean descents. If 2 of 4 alpha genes affected - alpha thalassemia minor. If homozygous for defective B chain - B thalassemia intermedia or major. Intermedia or major are move severe and diagnosed within first few yrs of life.
Milder forms of thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia
Must differentiate because treatment with iron in thalassemia can result in iron overload and lead to life limiting organ damage. Minor thalassemia pt will not respond to iron therapy and will have normal iron studies.
History, physical, and management of thalassemia
Most often found by accident. Physical unremarkable. Management - none other than education. Offer genetic counseling.