B7 Heamotology 2 Flashcards
What are the signs/symptoms of anaemia?
Shortness of breath Weakness Lethargy Tachycardia Nail bed and conjunctiva may be pale Severe anaemia in elderly may lead to angina Glossitis (painful red tongue) Angular cheilitis (fissures at corner of mouth)
What are the 6 aneamias called?
Iron anaemia Megaloblastic anaemia Haemolytic anaemia Aplastic anaemia Sickle cell Thalassaemias
What can be an input of Iron reduction?
Poor diet
Surgical removal of stomach
What can be an output of iron to increase?
Menstruation
GI bleeding ulcers
How can bone marrow and macrophages affect anaemia?
Iron deficiency when bone marrow and macrophage Fe stores depleted then anaemia occur
How can you treat iron anaemia?
Find and treat underlying cause (GI bleeding, menstruation problems)
Oral iron- FeSO4 usually
Prophylaxis in pregnancy - oral iron with folic acid
Transfusion
What can renal anaemia lead to? How is it treated?
Leads to normocytic anaemia
Treat with Fe and EPO
What is megaloblastic anaemia?
Due to abnormal red blood cell maturation as a result of defective DNA synthesis
What are megaloblasts?
Abnormal precursor cells, in which nuclear maturation is impaired in relation to that of they cytoplasm. Found in bone marrow
What is meant by macrocytic? How does this occur?
large RBC
due to vit B12 or folate deficiency
Why is B12 essential?
Cofactor for purine and pyrimidine synthesis (cell division)
What is haemolytic anaemia?
Increased rate of red blood cells destruction
What is spherocytosis?
Abnormal reduction in RBC membrane protein
What can cause haemolytic anaemia?
Haemolytic transfusion reaction
Malaria
Drug induced
What is sickle cells anaemia?
Abnormal Hb - insoluble forms crystals at low oxygen - RBC form sickle shapes may block microcirculation
What can sickle cell anaemia cause?
Haemolytic anaemia
What is thalassaemias?
Reduced rate of alpha or beta globin units production variations
What is aplastic anaemia?
Insufficient production of RBCs, WBCs and platelets
What does aplastic anaemia cause?
Decreased resistance to infections
Increased bleeding
Increased tiredness
What causes aplastic anaemia?
Viral
Radiation
Drugs : cytotoxic agents (anticancer), chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, insecticides
How does you treat aplastic anaemia?
Immunosuppressants
Colony stimulating factors - increase WBC count
Bone marrow transplant - with tissue match
What is polycythamia?
Increased Hb and haematocrit, increased blood viscosity- poor tissue perfusion
What are the signs and symptoms of polycythamia?
ruddy appearance
Headaches
blurred vision
Hypertension
What causes polycythamia?
Primary: changes in bone marrow, stem cell defect
Secondary: increased erythropoietin- altitude, smoking, renal carcinoma
What is the treatment of primary polycythamia?
Venesection, radioactive phosphorous, cytotoxic agents
