Ch5 - 2) Microcytic anemia Flashcards
Microcytic anemias include
(1) iron deficiency anemia, (2) anemia of chronic disease, (3) sideroblastic anemia, and (4) thalassemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is due to?
decreased levels of iron -> dec heme -> dec hemoglobin —» microcytic anemia
What is the most common type of anemia?
iron deficiency anemia
What is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world?
Lack of iron, affecting roughly 1/3 of world’s population
Iron is consumed in what forms?
heme (meat-derived) and non-heme (vegetable-derived) forms
Absorption of iron occurs in the?
duodenum, Enterocytes have heme and non-heme (DMT1) transporters; the heme form is more readily absorbed
How do enterocytes transport iron?
across the cell membrane into blood via ferroportin
How does transferrin transports iron?
in the blood and delivers it to liver and bone marrow macrophages for storage.
Stored intracellular iron is bound to what?
ferritin, which prevents iron from forming free radicals via the Fenton reaction
Laboratory measurements of iron status
1) serum iron 2)TIBC 3) % saturation 4) Serum ferritin
What does the serum iron measure?
Serum iron is a measure of iron in the blood
What does total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) measure?
transferrin molecules in the blood
What does % saturation of iron measure?
percentage of transferrin molecules that are bound by iron (normal is 33%)
What does serum ferritin measure?
reflects iron stores in macrophages and the liver
What is iron deficiency is usually caused by?
dietary lack or blood loss
What is iron deficiency is usually caused by in infants?
breast-feeding (human milk is low in iron)
What is iron deficiency is usually caused by in children?
poor diet
What is iron deficiency is usually caused by in adults?
(20-50 years old)—peptic ulcer disease in males and menorrhagia or pregnancy in females
What is iron deficiency is usually caused by in elderly?
colon polyps/carcinoma in the Western world; hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale and Nieator americanus) in the developing world
What are some other causes for iron deficiency?
malnutrition, malabsorption, and gastrectomy (acid aids iron absorption by maintaining the Fe2+ state, which is more readily absorbed
What are the stages of iron deficiency?
- Storage iron is depleted— decreased serum ferritin; increased TIBC (transferrin) 2. Serum iron is depleted— dec serum iron; dec % saturation 3. Normocytic anemia—Bone marrow makes fewer, but normal-sized, RBCs 4. Microcytic, hypochromic anemia—Bone marrow makes smaller and fewer RBC’s
The initial stage of iron deficiency results in what type of anemia?
normocytic anemia b/c the bone marrow’s initial response is to make as many normal RBC’s as possible
what are the clinical features of iron deficiency
anemia, koilonychia, and pica.
Laboratory findings for iron deficiency include?
microcytic, hypochromic RBCs with increased red cell distribution width increased RDW, 2. decreased ferritin; inc TIBC; dec serum iron; dec % saturation 3. inc Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP
What is FEP?
free erythrocyte protoporphoryin - decreased Fe means less protoporphorin is bound producing heme.
Why do you have increased RDW in iron deficiency?
initial response of bone marrow is to produce as many normal RBC’s as possible, after the anemia progresses it produces small RBC’s - varying sizes means increased RDW
What is RDW?
red blood cell distribution width, measures the spectrum of size of the RBC’s
What does a low RDW mean?
all of the red blood cells have the same size
What does a high RDW mean?
RBC’s have diffent sizes
What is the treatment for iron deficiency anemia?
involves supplemental iron (ferrous sulfate) - always ask why is the pt iron deficient
How does the size of the RBC and compare to a lymphocyte on a blood smear?
nucleus of the lymphocyte should represent the size of the RBC
What is Plummer-Vinson syndrome?
it is iron deficiency anemia with esophageal web and atrophic glossitis; presents with anemia, dysphagia, and beefy-red tongue
What is an esophogeal web?
some of the mucosa of the esophagous outfolds potentially creating a partial obstruction in the esophagus
What is anemia of chronic disease
Anemia associated with chronic inflammation (e.g., endocarditis or autoimmune conditions) or cancer;
What is the most common type of anemia in hospitalized patients?
anemia of chronic disease
How is hepcidin related to chronic disease?
chronic disease results in production of acute phase reactants from the liver including hepcidin.
What does hepcidin do?
sequesters iron in storage sites by (1) limiting iron transfer from macrophages to erythroid precursors and (2) suppressing erythropoietin (EPO) production; aim is to prevent bacteria from accessing iron, which is necessary for their survival.
How is anemia of chronic disease related to micrcytic anemia?
decreased availablity of iron —> decreased heme -> decreased hemoglobin -> microcytic anemia
What are the laboratory findings for anemia of chronic disease?
inc ferritin, dec TIBC, dec serum iron, dec % saturation, inc FEP
In anemia of chronic disease why is there increased ferritin?
in anemia of chronic disease there is an inability to use storage iron - storage iron builds up meaning ferritin goes up
Why is there a decrease in serum iron in anemia of chronic disease?
if the bone marrow cannot use the iron in the macrophages it will use the iron from the serum also decreasing % satuation