Chapter 5: Hemolytic Anemias Flashcards
What is the average lifespan of an erythrocyte?
120 days
What facilitates the normal destruction of RBCs?
The reticuloendothelial system (BM, liver, and spleen)
What is heme broken down into?
protoporpherin which becomes bilirubin and iron which is recycled.
What happens to globin from degraded RBCs?
It broken into amino acids which are excreted.
What are hemolytic anemias?
Anemias caused by increased Red cell
destruction.
Why does hemolytic anemia not present clinically until average red cell life is less than 30 days?
Because the bone marrow can compensate and produce 6-8 times the normal amount of RBCs masking the hemolysis.
How are hemolytic anemias classified?
Hemolytic anemias are either hereditary or acquired.
What are the clinical features of hemolytic anemias?
(1) pallor
(2) mild jaundice
(3) splenomegaly
(4) pigmented urine (urobillogen) (possibly kidney failure)
(5) Bilirubin gallstones.
(6) occasionally ulcers around the ankle (SSD)
What are the laboratory features of increased Red cell breakdown?
(1) increased serum bilirubin. (more for intravascular)
(2) increased urine urobillogen
(3) increased fecal stercobilinogen
(4) serum haptoglobins absent
(5) Increased LDH
(6) Plasma and urine Hgb increased
(7) Urine hemosiderin (intravascular hemolysis).
What are the laboratory features of increased RBC production?
(1) Reticulocytosis
(2) Myeloid:erythroid BM ratio of 1:1 or lower.
What are the RBC laboratory findings associated with damaged red cells?
(1) microspherocytes, elliptocytes, fragments
(2) autohemolysis
(3) Shortened RBC lifespan.
What are the two main locations of hemolysis?
(1) Extravascular via the reticuloendothelial system (liver and spleen)
(2) intravascular.
What are the key laboratory features of intravascular hemolysis?
(1) hemoglobinemia
(2) hemoglobinuria
(3) Hemosiderinuria
(4) Methaemaalbuminemia
What is the most common hereditary hemolytic anemia among northern europeans?
Hereditary spherocytosis.
What is the pathogenesis of hereditary spherocytosis?
Mutations to proteins involved in the interaction between cytoskeleton and membrane cause loss of RBC membrane. As RBCs circulate they become increasingly spherical. Eventually they get stuck in the microcirculation of the spleen and they die.
What are the clinical features of HS?
(1) Autosomal dominant (usually)
(2) Fluctuating jaundice (particularly with Gilbert’s disease)
(3) Splenomegaly in most patients
(4) Pigment gallstones
(5) aplastic crises (often precipitated by parvovirus infection)
What are the hematological findings with HS?
(1) Anemia
(2) microspherocytosis
(3) Reticulocytes 5-20%
What findings help diagnose HS?
(1) osmotic fragility
(2) Autohemolysis that is corrected by glucose
What is the treatment for HS?
Splenectomy, however this should not be done in younger patients or in patients with mild disease.
What is hereditary elliptocytosis?
A disease with similar clinical and lab features to HS, except for the appearance on a blood film. it also tends to be milder.
What causes hereditary elliptocytosis?
A mutation effecting the association of spectrin dimers into tetramers.
What is south-east asian ovalocytosis?
A red cell abnormality with cells that are rigid and resist invasion by malarial parasites. Most cases are asymptomatic. (mutation of the Band 3 protein)
How does G6PD effect RBCs?
G6PD renders RBCs susceptible to oxidant stress because it impairs their ability to form NADP.
What is the epidemiology of G6PD deficiency?
G6PD is X linked and affects mostly west african, mediterranian, middle eastern, and south-east asians. It imparts some resistance to malaria.
What are the clinical features of G6PD deficiency?
(1) Acute hemolytic anemia
(2) Neonatal jaundice
(3) Rarely a congenital non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia.
How is G6PD diagnosed?
(1) enzyme assay
(2) mid crisis contracted and fragmented ‘bite’ cells
How is G6PD treated?
Whatever agent precipitated the anemic crisis is treated. Blood transfusion may be necessary if the anemia is severe enough.