Anemia Types and Info Flashcards
How big should an RBC be? and how much should be central pallor?
size of lymphocyte nucleus
1/3 of total diameteer
hyperchromic RBC
central pallor less than 1/3 diameter
hypochromic RBC
central pallor greater than 1/3 diamter
anisocytosis definition
RBCs vary in size
microcytosis definition
small red blood cells, use MCV
microcytosis possible causes
almost always iron deficiency
Thalassemias, lead poisoning, sideroblastic anemia, chronic disease, hemoglobin C disease
Macrocytosis definition
RBSs are too big, use MCV
causes of macrocytosis
B12/folate deficiency leading to megaloblastic problems or DNA synthesis issues
liver, thyorid, chemotherapy, anti retrovirals, aplastic anemia, MDS<
hypochromasia definition
red cells with too little hemoglobin, central pallor will be more than 1/3
most common cause is iron deficiency
MCH measures
polychromasia definition
red cells with more of a bluish hint…usually larger and likely reticulocytes
poikilocytosis definition
RBCs varying widely in shape
anisopoikilocytosis definition
RBCs varying in size and shape
Target cells definition and causes
RBCs look like targets
liver disease, thalassemias, hemoglobin C, post splenectomy
spherocytes definition
loss of central pallor in RBCs
spherocytes causes (2)
hereditary spherocytosis and autoimmune hemolysis
schistocytes definition and disorder it is marker for
red cell fragments with sharp edges
marker for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA)
Bite cells definition and disorder it is marker for
RBCs with bites taken out of them
Heinz body hemolytic anemia
most common deficiency leading the Bite cells or Heinz body hemolytic anemia
G6PD deficiency
echinocytes/burr cells definition and common cause
small regular projections off the RBCs
seen in renal disease
acanthocytes/spur cells definition and common cause
larger irregular projections off RBCs
liver disease
teardrop cells definition and common causes
look like a teardrop
usually from myelophthisic processes like myelofibrosis, tumor metastasis in bone marrow, granulomatous diseases in marrow, leukemias/lymphomas
howell jolly bodies definition and common cause
nuclear remnants in a RBC
seen after a splenectomy
common cell disorders of RBC seen after splenectomy?
target cells, acanthocytes, schistocytes, howell jolly bodies
rouleaux definition and common causes (2)
linear arrangements of RBCs, like coins stacked
due to increased levels of immunoglobulin seen in multiple myeloma and waldenstroms macroglobulinemia
sometimes hypo-albuminemia
agglutination definition and common cause
usually due to the clumping of RBCs
due to IgM coating the RBCs
common things seen in smear with iron deficiency anemia?
hypchromic and microcytic cells
increased number of platelets
megaloblastic anemia findings on a smear and cause?
RBCs are macrocytic and neutrophils are hypersegmented
B12 deficiencies
findings on a smear with autoimmune hemolytic anemia?
polychromasia RBCs and microspherocyte RBCs
hemoglobin measurement
directly measured…amount of hemoglobin
hematocrit measurement
calculated, volume of RBC per volume of blood
MCV measurement
mean cell volume, direct measurement of red cell volume
MCH and MCHC measurements
calculated values
RDW measurement
coefficient of variation in red cell size…gives idea on range of sizes seen in RBCs
hypovolemia definition
low blood volume
symptoms of acute hemorrhage leading to hypovolemia
hypotension, orthostatic changes, syncope, shock
symptoms of tissue hypoxia that can be seen with anemic patients
fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive problems, ischemic pain (angina or claudication)
body changes to acute anemia
increased CO by increase HR…sometimes SV
vasoconstriction
body changes to chronic anemia (3)
kidneys retain salt and water more to beef up blood volume
increase erythrocyte 2,3DPG
increase erythropoietin synthesis
renal mesangial cells
sense low oxygen delivery and signal for erythropoietin synthesis
3 mechanisms of anemia?
hemorrhage or bleeding
hemolysis (short cell life)
decreased cell production
two ways to classify anemias?
by erythropoietic response and by red cell size and hemoglobin concentration
two erythropoietic responses to anemia
hyperproliferative and make plenty of reticulocytes
hypoproliferative and make too few reticulocytes
What does it mean if reticulocyte index is less than 2% or absolute reticulocyte count is less than 75,000?
means you have a hypoproliferative problem
What does it mean if reticulocyte index is more than 2% or absolute count is greater than 100,000?
hyperproliferative..anemic problem likely from hemorrhage or hemolysis
What conditions give sign to give anemic patient a transfusion?
cardiovascular compromise…heart failure, angina, shock
hypoproliferative anemis with no or prolonged recovery
anemic patient going into surgery
