Anemia Handout Flashcards
What are the usual causes of low RBC or HBG
- Blood loss
- Inadequate production
- Increased RBC destruction
Depending on the severity, anemia can affect what
All major organ systems
What is the pathophysiology of anemia
Altered HBG synthesis such as iron deficiency
Altered DNA synthesis such as vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency
Bone marrow failure such as aplastic anemia ( stem cell dysfunction)
Increased RBC loss or destruction: acute or chronic blood loss: increased hemolysis such as sickle cell anemia, infection.
What are manifestations of anemia
Pallor of skin, mucous membranes, conjunctiva, nail beds
Increased heart and respiratory rates as body compensates
Angina, fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, night cramps
Increased erythropoietin activity may cause bone pain
Cerebral hypoxia, headache, dizziness, dim vision
Heart failure with severe anemia
Signs of circulatory shock with rapid blood loss
Systolic heart murmur with chronic blood loss due to decreased viscosity of blood.
What is the most common type of anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
What is iron deficiency anemia
An inadequate iron supply which in turn, the body cannot synthesize hemoglobin which results in fewer RBCs which are microcytic, hypochromic and malformed ( poikilocytosis).
What is poikilocytosis
Malformed RBCs
What is the cause of iron deficiency anemia
Inadequate dietary intake
Malabsorption
Increased iron needs as with pregnancy and lactation
Chronic bleeding, menstrual blood loss,
Chronic occult blood loss in older adults
Slowly bleeding tumors, GI inflammation, hemmorhoids
Cancer
What are additions manifestations of iron deficiency anemia
Brittle, spoon shaped nails
Cheilosis ( cracks at corner of mouth)
Smooth sore tongue,
Pica
What is pica
Craving unusual substances such as clay, starch.
What is cheilosis
Cracks at corner of mouth
What is sickle cell anemia
A hereditary, chronic hemolytic anemia
Characterized by episodes of suckling in which RBC becomes abnormally cresent shaped.
It has a autosomal genetic defect causing abnormal form of hemoglobin within RBCs.
Sickle cell anemia is more common in which race?
African descent
What is the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia
HGB becomes deoxygenated under hypoxemia and red blood cells deform into cresent or sickle shaped
The sickled cells clump together and obstruct capillary blood flow leading to ischemia and possible infarction of surrounding tissue. Under normal oxygen tension, sickled RBCs regain normal shape and u sickle. Repeated episodes weakens RBC and they are hemolyzed: RBC has a shortened life span.
What are general manifestations of sickle cell anemia
Pallor Fatigue Jaundice Irritability With vaso-occlusive crisis (4-6 days); painful swelling of hands, feet, large joints, priapism, abdominal pain, stroke.
What is priapism
Persistent, painful erection
What is aplastic anemia
Due to shortened life span of RBC and compromised erythropoesis
What is sequestration crisis
Pooling of large amounts of blood in liver and spleen occurring more in children
What is treatment of sickle cell anemia
Largely supportive: rest, oxygen, pain management, adequate hydration, Treat precipitating factors Folic acid supplementation Blood transfusions Genetic counseling
What is aplastic anemia
BONE MARROW FAILURE, resulting in pantocytopenia ( low levels of RBC, WBC, platelets)
Marrow is replaced by fat
What are causes of aplastic anemia
Causes as idiopathic,
Viral infection, stem cell damage from radiation, exposure to chemicals, certain antibiotics ( chloramphenicol), chemotherapeutic drugs
What are manifestations of aplastic anemia
Fatigue, pallor, headache, exertional dyspnea, tachycardia, heart failure
Bleeding due to low platelet levels
Fever, increased infection risk due to low WBC
What is treatment for aplastic anemia
Removal of causative agent
Blood transfusions
Bone marrow transplant
*Ensure adequate tissue oxygenation
Treatment determined by underlying cause
What are diagnostic tests for aplastic anemia
CBC, blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC indices.
Iron levels and total iron-binding capacity ( TIBC): deficits occur with iron deficiency anemia
Serum ferritin
Sickle cell test
Hemoglobin electrophoresis
Shilling test
Bone marrow examination quantative assay of G6PD
What is serum ferritin
It is low with depletion of total iron stores
Ferritin is iron storage protein produced by the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
What is hemoglobin electrophoresis
Separation of normal from abnormal forms of hemoglobin