Anemia Flashcards
_______
is defined as a reduction in red blood cell numbers or
a haemoglobin (Hb) level below the normal reference
level for the age and sex of that individua
Anaemia
The WHO defines anaemia as haemoglobin
_______ for men,_______ for women and______
in pregnant women and school-aged children.
<130 g/L
<120 g/L
<110 g/L
In Australia, most people with anaemia will have
iron deficiency ranging from up to _______ for children
to ________ for menstruating females.
5%
20%
The incidence of haemoglobinopathy traits,
especially _________ is increasing in
multicultural Western societies
thalassaemia,
If a patient presents with precipitation or
aggravation of myocardial ischaemia, heart failure
or intermittent claudication, consider the possibility
of _________
anaemia
The serum ________level, which is low in cases of
iron-deficiency anaemia, is probably the best test to
monitor iron-deficiency anaemia as its level reflects
the amount of stored iron.
ferritin
Give some unusual features of anemia:
• dyspnoea on exertion • palpitations • angina on effort • intermittent claudication • pica—usually brittle and crunchy food, e.g. ice (iron-deficiency anaemia
Non-specific of anemia signs include
pallor, tachycardia, systolic
flow murmur and angular cheilosis.
Specific of anemia signs include
jaundice—haemolytic
anaemia, and koilonychias (spoon-shaped nails)—
iron-deficiency anaemia
The history may indicate the nature of the problem
___________: inadequate diet, pregnancy, GIT
loss, menorrhagia, NSAID and anticoagulant
ingestion
iron deficiency
The history may indicate the nature of the problem
___________inadequate diet especially
with pregnancy and alcoholism, small bowel
disease
folate deficiency:
The history may indicate the nature of the problem
__________previous gastric surgery,
ileal disease or surgery, pernicious anaemia,
selective diets (e.g. vegetarian, fad)
vitamin B12 deficiency:
________abrupt onset anaemia with mild
jaundice
haemolysis:
The various types of anaemia are classified in terms
of the red cell size—the_______
mean corpuscular volume
(MCV):
- microcytic—MCV _____
- macrocytic—MCV_____
- normocytic—MCV _______
≤ 80 fL
>100 fL
80–100 fL
the anaemia of
______ can be macrocytic in addition to the
more likely normocytic;
hypothyroidism
_____ is the most common cause of anaemia
worldwide
It is the biggest cause of microcytic
anaemia,
Iron deficiency
the main differential diagnosis of
microcytic anaemia being a _____ and ____
haemoglobinopathy such
as thalassaemia
Lab features of IDA
• Microcytic anaemia
• Serum ____ level low (NR: F 15–200 mcg/L: M
30–300 mcg/L)
• Serum _____ level low
ferritin
iron
Non-haematological effects
of chronic iron deficiency
- Angular cheilosis/stomatitis
- Glossitis
- Oesophageal webs
- Atrophic gastritis
- Brittle nails and koilonychias
Cause of IDA: physiological
1
2
3
- Prematurity, infant growth
- Adolescent growth
- Pregnancy
s.Fe ↓; s.ferr ↓; transferrin ↑
Investigations: Therapeutic trial of iron; GIT
evaluation for blood loss
Iron deficiency
s.Fe N or ↑; s.ferr N or ↑
Investigations: Haemoglobin investigation,
e.g. electrophoresis
Haemoglobinopathy (e.g.
thalassaemia
s.Fe N or ↑; s.ferr N or ↑
Investigations: Bone marrow examination
Sideroblastic anaemia (hereditary
Occasionally microcytic
s.Fe ↓; s.ferr N or ↑; transferrin ↓
Anaemia of chronic disease
Example of macrocytic
With megaloblastic changes
1
2
3
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Cytotoxic drugs
s.B12 ↓; rc.Fol N or ↑
Investigations: IF antibody assay; Schilling test
Vitamin B12 deficiency
s.B12 N; rc.Fol ↓
Folate deficiency
Appropriate setting; s.B12 N; rc.Fol N
Cytotoxic drugs
Examples of macrocytic without megaloblastic
- Liver 2. disease/alcoholism
Myelodysplastic disorders (including
sideroblastic anaemia)
Appropriate setting; uniform
macrocytosis; s.B12 N; rc.Fol N
Liver function tests
Liver disease/alcoholism
Specific peripheral blood findings;
s.B12 N; rc.Fol N
Bone marrow examination
Myelodysplastic disorders (including sideroblastic anaemia