Anemia Flashcards
Classification of anemia in males
Why men have more oxygen carrying capacity than women
Testosterone production drives hemoglobin synthesis
The percent of blood that is RBCs compared to plasma
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in acute blood loss
Normal at 1st but low after fluid recessitation
Lysis of erythrocytes
Hemolysis
2 groups of antibodies that commonly cause hemolysis
- ITP, TTP (thrombocytopenia purpura)
2. Transfusion mismatch
Why hemoglobin measurement is unreliable in hemolysis
When cells break they dump hemoglobin into the plasma
Broken cells/ RBC fragments seen on a peripheral smear that indicate that hemolysis is occuring
Schistocytes
A circulating protein whose function is to bind and transport free (from lysed RBCs) to the blood forming organs (liver and bone marrow) for recycling of iron
Haptoglobin
2 things that low haptoglobin can indicate
- Liver isn’t functioning and cannot make new proteins
2. Hemolysis is occuring
3 vaccines needed for spleenectomy
- Prevnar
- Mennigitis
- Influenza
(Incapsulated bacteria)
An abnormal recessive composition of alpha or beta hemoglobin chains in which abnormal RBCs are subject to lysis
Thalassemia
Morphologic classification of anemia due to Thalassemia
microcytic
RBC appearance in Thalassemia
looks like a target
Most common group of people to have Thalassemia
Individuals of African or Mediterranean origin
A recessive, X-linked SNP that renders RBC membranes susceptible to oxidative stress
G6PD deficiency
Morphologic classification of anemia due to G6PD deficiency
Normocytic
Hematocrit / RBC number (describes the mean size of a single RBC)
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)
Normal MCV value
80 - 100 fl
Morphologic classification of anemia due to iron deficiency
Microcytic
The abnormal, irresistible craving to eat weird stuff
Pica
Recommended daily elemental iron in males 14 - 18 y/o
11 mg/day
Recommended daily elemental iron in males > 18 y/o
8 mg/day
Recommended daily elemental iron in females 14 - 18 y/o
15 mg/day
Recommended daily elemental iron in females 19 - 50 y/o
18 mg/day
Recommended daily elemental iron in pregnancy
27 mg/day
Recommended daily elemental iron in lactation
9 mg/day
Carrier protein that carries iron
Transferrin
1 microcytic anemias that commonly resemble iron deficiency
- Thalassemia
2. Chronic heavy metal exposure
Usual treatment dose for iron deficiency
200 mg elemental iron per day
Duration of iron therapy once hemoglobin has normalized
3 - 6 months
% elemental iron in ferrous sulfate
20 %
% elemental iron in ferrous gluconate
12%
% elemental iron in ferrous fumarate
33%
Morphologic classification of anemia due to Vitamin B12 deficiency
Macrocytic
Autoimmune disease of gastric parietal cells with subsequent loss of intrinsic factor that causes inability to absorb Vit B12
Pernicious anemia
Morphological classification of anemia in folate deficiency
macrocytic
Classification of anemia in females
The most populous WBCs that are the body’s primary defense mechanism against microbial invasion
Neutrophils
Left shift in blood cells
The presence of immature forms of neutrophils in peripheral blood
3 clinical concern in thrombocytosis
clotting, hemorrhage, migraine
2 clinical concerns in thrombocytopenia
bleeding,hemorrhage
4 clinical concerns with erythrocytosis/polycythemia
Increased blood viscosity
HTN
Thrombosis (clotting)
Bleeding
High hemoglobin
polycythemia/erythrocytosis
High eosinophils
Eosinophilia
Clinical concerns with eosinophelia
clinically benign but concern about the underlying cause
High WBCs
Leukocytosis
Clinical concern with leukocytosis
Usually clinically benign unless extreme but concerned about underlying cause
(% neutrophils + % bands) x WBC
Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)
