anemia Flashcards
EPO is produced
by the kidney in response to adequacy of tissue oxygenation
role of EPO
enhances growth and differentiation of the erythroid progenitors into normoblasts
d. When a normoblast extrudes its nucleus to form a RBC it is called a
reticulocyte
Reticulocytes retain ribosomal network for about ____ and then
Reticulocytes retain ribosomal network for about 4 days (3 d in marrow, 1 d in blood) then lose RNA and become mature RBC
MCC of microcytic
i. IDA
ii. Thalassemia
MCC of normocytic
i. ACD (Anemia of chronic disease)
MCC of Macrocytic
i. B12/Folate deficiency
ii. With increased reticulocytes:
1. Hemolysis
sxs due to decreased oxygen or hypovolemia
Exertional dyspnea, dyspnea at rest, varying degrees of fatigue, bounding pulses, palpitations, “roaring” sound in the ears (can hear their heart beat in their ears)
e. Acute bleeding with severe volume depletion may lead to sxs of
fatigue, muscle cramps and can progress to postural dizziness, lethargy, syncope, hypotension, shock and death
mild anemia is more common with sxs associated with
exertion
as it progresses you will see fatigue and dyspnea at rest
PE and CM evidence for hemolysis
Splenomegaly
petechial rashes
jaundice abdominal pain = sign of hemolysis
evidence that the bone marrow is suppressed
Pancytopenia? Lack of retic count?
Recurrent infections
what do we want to start thinking of with iron deficiency
Why? lots of ETOH, dietary deficiency, underlying illness
NSAIDS and ASA
can cause bleeding and anemia
hydrourea
medication for sickle cell disease
worry about renal failure b/c
decreased EPO
LDA HSM and bonetenderness
can give you indication of underlying cancer or bone marrow probem
if your pt has anemia what would you expect from reticulocytes
high because if the bone marrow is healthy it should be pumping out more reticulocytes
if you have anemia the reticulocytes should NOT be 1% like it is normally
Iron studies/panel include
Iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, ferritin
what to order if you suspect hemolytic anemia
LDH (elevated in certain types of CA and hemolytic anemia),
indirect bilirubin
haptoglobin (decreased in hemolytic)
why would you order EPO level or serum Cr
worried about anemia from renal damage
hypochromic microcytic anemia
IDA
Consider hemolysis in what type of anemia picture
normocytic
Leukopenia (low WBC) + anemia usually due to
bone marrow suppression, hypersplenism, vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies
Leukocytosis (increase WBC)+ anemia typically indicates
indicates infection, inflammation,
or hematologic malignancy (WBC over 60,000)
increase in neutriphils
iii. Inc neutrophils in infxn
; inc monocytes in
in myelodysplasia
inc eosinophils with
parasites or allergic disease
; dec neutrophils
s/p chemo
; dec lymphocytes
in HIV or steroid tx
Thrombocytopenia with anemia ddx
DDx includes
hypersplenism malignancy involving bone marrow autoimmune platelet destruction sepsis vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
Thrombocytosis with anemia ddx
DDx includes
myeloproliferative disease chronic iron deficiency inflammatory infectious or neoplastic disorders
Can provide information not otherwise available in a CBC with diff
Peripheral blood smear
MCC on anemia
IDA
GIB is THE MCC of th MC anemia
Iron is stored primarily as
ferritin first levels to decrease with IDA
Causes of Iron Deficiency
¢ Deficient diet
¢ Decreased GI absorption
¢ Increased iron requirements (Pregnancy & lactation)
Blood loss (GI, menstrual, blood donation)
¢ Hemoglobinuria
¢ Iron sequestration (Pulmonary hemosiderosis)
pica is a sx related to
IDA
skin changes in anemia
” Skin and mucosal changes: smooth tongue, brittle nails, cheilosis (dry cracked areas on corners of mouth which can bleed)
if you have a clear suspicion of IDA or GIB
might have stool positive for a occult blood
first indicator of IDA
Ferritin
then TIBC due to increase binding sites open as iron is
- Peripheral smear from a patient with iron deficiency shows
pale small red cells with just a scant rim of pink hemoglobin; occasional “pencil” shaped cells are also present. Normal red cells are similar in size to the nucleus of a small lymphocyte (arrow);
thus, many microcytic cells are present in this smear. Thalassemia can produce similar findings.
tx of IDA
tx the cause and anemia
FeSO4 325mg PO TID = 1st line
Tana says she usually starts 1 time a day
also refer pts to dietician or council them on diet
don’t take iron with milk=bad absorption band constipation