Anemia of Chronic Disease and Hemolytic Anemias Flashcards
is there low iron in anemia of chronic disease
no, there is normal iron but there is an inability to incorporate iron into the
RBC
What do the cells look like in ACD
normocytic, can sometimes look microcytic which looks like iron def anemia sometimes
what is the retic count in the ACD
low or normal, not elevated to compensate for the anemia
what are the causes of ACD
infection, viral (HIV, bacterial, fungal, parasitic)
- malignancy - lose blood
- autoimmune like IBD
- ESRD (decreased production of EPO)
what will the ferritin levels look in ACD
normal because not iron deficiency
what is the difference in the CBC of patients with ACD vs iron def anemia
RDW is normal in the ACD and WBC is elevated in ACD but both have elevated platelets (thrombocytosis)
what will be ferritin in levels in ACD vs iron deficiency
elevated serum ferritin in ACD because normal iron but it isn’t being utilized
- but decreased ferritin in iron def
what is the treatment for ACD
transfusion
- but also need to give chelating agents for transfusion
- erythropeitic stimulating agents
what is the target Hb for patients with ACD
target Hb of 10
- overcorrection can lead to increased neurological and cardiovascular mortalities
what type of anemia is hemolytic anemia
hyperproliferative
what is happening to the RBC in hemolytic anemia
bone marrow is producing RBC but the RBC are living shorter lifespan than they should
what is the retic count for patients with hemolytic anemia
increased retic count, responding to the loss of RBC
what are the Hb degradation products you would expect to see in hemolytic anemia
increased indirect bilirubin and LDH
what will the haptoglobin level be in hemolytic anemia
decreased haptoglobin
what is the role of haptoglobin
binds to free Hb, you will have lots of Hb from hemolysis which saturates the haptoglobin
What are the three most common features of hemolytic anemia
high bilirubin, high LDH and decreased haptoglobin
what are the symptoms of hemolytic anemia
- tired, fautigue
- jaundice because high bilirubin
what is intravascular hemolysis
when RBC are hemolysing in the blood
- more acute
- disintegration of RBC in the peripheral blood and free Hb will go to kidneys and shut them down
what is extravascular hemolysis
typically takes place in spleen and liver
- abnormal RBC
- when they go through the spleen the spleen kills them
What will you find in the urine of a patient with hemolytic anemia
Hb in the urine and hemosiderin
What are the findings on the peripheral smear of a patient with hemolytic anemia
immature nucleated RBC (bone marrow sending out immature cells to compensate)
- microspherocytes
- schistocytes - destroyed RBC
What are the findings on the marrow biopsy of a patient with hemolytic anemia
increased production of RBC = erythroid hyperplasia
- compensate for loss of RBC
what are the two hereditary RBC enzyme defects causing hemolytic anemia
G6PD def
pyruvate kinase def
what are the two hereditary RBC membrane defects causing hemolytic anemia
spherocytosis and ovalocytosis
what are the two Hb defects causing hemolytic anemia
amino acid subtitutions = sickle cell
and production defects = alpha and beta thal
what sort of anemia can result from mechanical stress?
acquired hemolytic anemia can be caused by mechanical stress due to abnormal aortic valve that destroys RBC and there is fragmentation of the cells
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
acquired
- defects in the complement that lead to destruction of RBC