Block 4 L2 anaemia

Question 1

causes of anaemia?

Answer 1

Anaemia is caused by a reduced number of red blood cells in circulation, or a decreased amount of haemoglobin in the red blood cells

Question 2

common side effects of anaemia?

Answer 2

In patients, this causes weakness, tiredness, inability to exercise and shortness of breath

Question 3

what is pallor?

Answer 3

pale

Question 4

what is tachycardia?

Answer 4

pulse rate over 100 beets per min

Question 5

what is glossitis?

Answer 5

swollen and painful tongue (B12 deficiency)

Question 6

poilonychia

Answer 6

spoon nails (iron defficiency)

Question 7

name of conditions affecting erythropoiesis in the bone marrow?

Answer 7

pure red cell aplasia (PRCA)

Question 8

Conditions affecting production of other cell types in addition to RBCs (white cells and platelets) name?

Answer 8

pancytopenia

Question 9

what are Haemolytic anaemias caused by?

Answer 9

premature destruction (reduced lifespan from~120 days) of functional erythrocytes either by extrinsic or extrinsic mechanisms.

Question 10

Allo-immune haemolysis is an extrinsic cause what happens?

Answer 10

Alloantibodies are produced in response to the immune recognition of foreign erythrocytes that have been introduced via a blood transfusion or due to pregnancy (following the mixing of maternal and foetal blood at delivery)
Alloantibodies are produced in response to the immune recognition of foreign erythrocytes that have been introduced via a blood transfusion or due to pregnancy (following the mixing of maternal and foetal blood at delivery)

Question 11

Auto-immune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is an extrinsic cause of heamolytic anaemia, what happens?

Answer 11

Autoantibodies are found when a patients’ immune system produces antibodies that recognize their own erythrocytes as foreign and mediate their destruction

Question 12

what are Haemoglobinopathies? example?

Answer 12

Haemoglobinopathies are autosomal co-dominant genetic defects resulting in abnormal structure of one of the globin chains of the haemoglobin molecule

Question 13

in sickle cell anaemia, where is the mutation?

Answer 13

Sickle cell anaemia is attributed to mutations in the beta-globin gene.

Question 14

essential micronutrients for red cell synthesis?

Answer 14

The essential micronutrients iron, vitamins B12 and B6 and folic acid are required for various steps in regulating erythrocyte function, especially for the metabolism of haem.

Question 15

on a blood film, what is iron defficiency defined by?

Answer 15

Iron deficiency is characterised by hypochromic (pale) microcytes (small)

Question 16

what is sideroblastic anaemia?

Answer 16

Sideroblastic anaemia is characterized not by lack of iron, but its failure to be incorporated into haem in the erythrocyte precursor cells.

Question 17

where is haem synthesised?

Answer 17

Haem is a complex molecule synthesized in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of erythrocyte progenitor cells.

Question 18

when is vitamin B12 andd folate used?

Answer 18

Vitamin B12/folate is essential for DNA synthesis in erythrocyte proliferation

Question 19

HB
RBC
MCV
HCT

Answer 19

HB = haemoglobin 
RBC = red blood cells 
MCV = mean corpuscular volume
HCT = haematocrit

Question 20

MCH
MCHC
RDW

Answer 20

MCH = mean corpuscular haemoglobin 
MCHC = MCH concentration
RDW = Red blood cell distribution width

Question 21

causes of microlytic anaemia?

Answer 21

iron defficiency, thalassaemia, lead poisoning,

Question 22

causes of normacytic anaemias?

Answer 22

bone marrow disorders, acute blood loss

Question 23

causes of macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 23

B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, liver disease