anemia in general

Question 1

what is anemia and what are the clinical signs

Answer 1

less hemoglobin circulating and functioning (less rbc)
leads to hypoxia
clinical signs: pale mucous membrane, skin
weakness, exercise intolerance
increased respiratory rate, heart rate

Question 2

how can we determine if the bone marrow is responding?

Answer 2

reticulocyte count high = BM responding, trying to fix anemia
reticulocyte index

Question 3

what is reticulocyte index

Answer 3

RI=(PCV/0,45) x reticulocyte %
if above 2,5 - regenerative anemia
if under 2,5 - non regenerative anemia

Question 4

what is the cause of regenerative anemia

Answer 4

RI > 2,5
blood loss: loss of rbc
haemolytic: destruction of RBC

Question 5

what is the cause of non regenerative anemia

Answer 5

RI<2,5
deficiency anemia (Fe, B12, folic acid)
decreased EPO (normally stimulate BM)
endocrine disorder (hypothyreosis, Addison)
aplastic anemia
several bone marrow producing cells are low/missing

Question 6

what lab examinations do we do on pale patient

Answer 6

PCV 
RBC, WBC, PLT-count 
reticulocyte %
morphology of RBC
TP
Tbr
Fe (iron binding capacity): only serum 
coagulation times: APTT, PTT, ACT

Question 7

what can PCV show us

Answer 7

ratio of RBC to whole volume

can see color of plasma: icterus or hemolytic

Question 8

how does TP change in different anemias?

Answer 8

increase in hemolysis

decrease in blood loss

Question 9

how does TBr change in different anemias

Answer 9

up in hemolysis