Clin Med Final Flashcards
What is defined as the concentration of Hb in whole blood?
Hemoglobin
What is defined as the volume of packed RBCs?
Hematocrit
What is a calculated value used to determine the average size/volume of RBCs
Mean corpuscular volume MCV
What is the average Hb concentration in a RBC?
Mean corpuscular Hb concentration MCHC
What measures the degree of variation in RBC size?
Red cell distribution width RDW
What is anisocytosis?
Variation in size of RBCs
What is poikilocytosis?
Variation in shape of RBCs
What are the three types of microcytic hypochromic anemias?
Iron deficiency
Thalassemia
Sideroblastic
What is the one normocytic normochromic anemia?
Anemia of chronic disease
What are the two macrocytic megaloblastic anemias?
Folate deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
What are common signs of all anemias?
Pallor
Heme in stool
Orthostatic changes
Tachycardia
What are common symptoms of all anemias?
Fatigue Weakness Headache Dizziness Dyspnea Palpitations
What is the most common cause of anemia? What population is it most prevalent in?
Iron deficiency anemia
Women of childbearing age
What are the causes of iron deficiency anemia?
Blood loss*
Decreased dietary intake
Decreased iron absorption
Labs show ↓ RBC ↓ Ferritin ↓ Serum Fe ↑ TIBC ↑ RDW
Smear shows
Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Anisocytosis
Poikilocytosis
What do you suspect?
Iron deficiency anemia
Clinical presentations include:
Atrophic glossitis Angular cheilitis Koilonychia Pica Dysphagia Restless leg syndrome
What do you suspect?
Iron deficiency anemia
What is the treatment for iron deficiency anemia?
Treat underlying cause*
Replace iron stores
Oral Ferrous Sulfate 325mg TID
Should see an increase of Hb at a rate of 2-4g/dL every 3 weeks until return to baseline
Continue for 3-6 months
What type of anemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that results in a reduction in synthesis of globin chains?
Thalassemia
What type of anemia leads to bone changes, impaired growth, and iron overload?
Thalassemia
Labs show ↑ RBC RDW is normal ↑ Ferritin ↑ Serum Iron ↓ TIBC
Smear shows
Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Target cells
What do you suspect?
Thalassemia
What can be used to help diagnose Thalassemia and can detect the type of Hb present?
Hemoglobin electrophoresis
A deletion of 1 of the 4 alpha globin chains results in what?
Silent carrier of Thalassemia
A deletion of 2 of the 4 alpha globin chains results in what?
a-thalassemia minor or mild microcytic anemia
A deletion of 3 of the 4 alpha globin chains results in what?
Hemoglobin H disease or moderate microcytic anemia
A deletion of 4 of the 4 alpha globin chains results in what?
Hydrops fetalis
A deletion/absence of 1 of the 2 beta globin chains results in what?
Thalassemia minor
Mild microcytic anemia
A deletion/absence of 2 of the 2 beta globin chains results in what?
Thalassemia Major
Severe hemolytic anemia
What is the treatment for Thalassemia?
Folic acid supplementation
AVOID iron supplementation
Regular transfusions (severe)
Hematopoietic cell transplant (severe b-Thalassemia)
What causes sideroblastic anemia?
Acquired -Often a variant of MDS -Chronic alcoholism -Copper deficiency Inherited
What will a bone marrow aspirate of a person with sideroblastic anemia show?
Ring sideroblasts
What will a blood smear of a person with sideroblastic anemia show?
Siderocytes with Pappenheimer bodies
Labs show
↑ RDW
↑ Ferritin
↑ Serum Iron
Smear shows
Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Pappenheimer bodies
What do you suspect?
Sideroblastic anemia
Systemic iron overload may be indistinguishable from what?
Hereditary hemochromatosis
What is the treatment of sideroblastic anemia?
Patient education- refer to hematology Treat underlying cause Discontinue offending drug Pyridoxine (vit B6) Transfusion
What is the second most common cause of anemia and is due to a reduction of RBC production?
Anemia of chronic disease
What is a contributing factor to anemia of chronic disease?
Hepcidin-induced alteration in iron metabolism
Labs show Mild anemia (Hb 10-100 g/dL) ↑ Ferritin (acute phase) ↓ Serum Iron ↓TIBC
Smear shows
Normocytic and normochromic RBCs
What do you suspect?
Anemia of chronic disease
What is the treatment for anemia of chronic disease?
Treat underlying disease
Erythropoietin
How long does it take folate deficiency to develop into anemia?
Folate total body stores are small, and have a short half-life so, 4-5 months deprivation can result in anemia
What are some dietary sources of folate?
Fresh leafy vegetables
Citrus fruits
Meat
Fortified cereals, rice
Where is folate absorbed?
Jejunum
What are the clinical presentations of folate deficiency anemia?
Glossitis
Vague GI symptoms
NO neurologic abnormalitie
What can folate deficiency in pregnancy cause?
Neural tube defects
Labs show
↓ Serum folate
↑ Homocysteine
Serum methylmalonic acid is normal
Smear shows
Macro-ovalocytes, hypersegmented neutrophils
What do you suspect?
Folate deficiency anemia
What is the treatment for folate deficiency?
Treat underlying cause
Replacement therapy
-1mg PO daily
What must you always rule out when diagnosis folate deficiency anemia?
Coexisting B12 deficiency
Why must you always rule out a coexisting B12 deficiency when diagnosis folate deficiency anemia?
If b12 is not also replaced, pt may develop irreversible neurological damage called subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
What are sources of vitamin B12?
Only available from diet
Animal sources
What is the most common cause of a vitamin B12 deficiency?
Malabsoption
How long does it take a vitamin B12 deficiency to develop into anemia?
Body has large stores for B12 so anemia typically takes years to develop
Where is vitamin B12 absorbed? Where is it stored?
Absorbed in the ileum
Stored in the liver
What are common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?
Pernicious anemia
Decreased intake (vegan diet)
Medications
What is pernicious anemia?
Autoimmune disorder that causes impaired IF secretion
What are the clinical presentations of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?
Glossitis
GI symptoms
Neurologic symptoms
-defective myelin synthesis in CNS
Labs show
↓ Serum vitamin B12
↑ Homocysteine
↑ Serum methylmalonic acid
Smear shows
Macro-ovalocytes, hypersegmented neutrophils
Ansiocytosis
Poikilocytosis
What do you suspect?
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Labs show antibodies to IF, parietal cells, and ↑ gastrin. What do you suspect?
Pernicious anemia
What is the treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?
Parenteral Vitamin B12
Treat reversible causes
PO repletion for mild disease
Monitor potassium levels
What is the normal survival time for RBCs? What survival . time can the marrow not compensate for?
Normal= 120 days
Cannot compensate for survival less than 20 days
What are clinical presentations of hemolytic anemia?
Jaundice
Gallstones
Dark urine
Labs show ↑ Reticulocytes, polychromasia ↑ Unconjugated bilirubin ↑ Serum lactate dehydrogenase ↓ Serum Haptoglobin (intravascular)
Smear shows
Immature RBCs
Nucleated RBCs
Schistocytes (fragmented RBCs)
What do you suspect?
Hemolytic anemia
In addition to labs and blood smear, what test can be done to help distinguish between hemolytic anemias?
Direct antiglobin (Coombs) test
What are the four types of extravascular hemolytic anemias?
G6PD deficiency
Hereditary spherocytosis
Sickle cell
Autoimmune
What are the two types of intravascular hemolytic anemias?
Hemolytic transfusion reaction
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
What type of hemolysis causes destruction of RBCs in the reticuloendothelial system (spleen)
Extravascular hemolysis
What type of hemolysis causes destruction of RBCs within the blood stream?
Intravascular hemolysis
What do G6PD enzymes protect RBCs from?
Oxidative stress
What type of genetic inheritance does G6PD deficiency anemia follow?
X-linked recessive disorder
Female carries rarely affected
What are symptoms of G6PD deficiency anemia during a hemolytic episode?
Back or abdominal pain
Splenomegaly
Jaundice
Labs show
↑ Reticulocytes
↑ Indirect bilirubin
↓ G6PD
Smear shows
Bite cells
Heinz bodies
What do you suspect?
G6PD deficiency anemia
What is the treatment of G6PD deficiency anemia?
Hemolytic episodes usually self limited
Avoid oxidative drugs
What type of genetic inheritance does hereditary spherocytosis anemia follow?
Autosomal dominant disorder with mild hemolytic anemia
In hereditary spherocytosis anemia, why is the RBC life-span reduced in patients with a spleen?
RBCs are poorly deformable Get trapped in the splenic sinusoids
Phagocytized by splenic macrophages
What are the clinical presentations of hereditary spherocytosis anemia?
Often asymptomatic
Mild jaundice, scleral icterus
Pigmented black gallstones
Splenomegaly
What diagnostic tests can be used for hereditary spherocytosis anemia? What do they show?
Osmotic Fragility Test
Coombs (negative)
What is the treatment for hereditary spherocytosis anemia?
Folate supplement
Splenectomy tx of choice for chronic disease
What type of genetic inheritance does sickle cell anemia follow?
Autosomal recessive Homozygous form -Sickle cell disease: Symptoms Heterozygous from -Sickle cell trait: Carriers
What are the clinical presentations of sickle cell anemia?
Vaso-occlusive ischemic tissue injury
Pain crisis
Acute chest syndrome
What is the diagnostic test of choice for sickle cell anemia? What does it show?
Hgb electrophoresis reveals Hb S
Blood smear shows Normocytic, normochromic anemia
Howell- Jolly bodies
What do yo suspect?
Sickle cell anemia
What is the treatment for sickle cell anemia?
Avoid precipitating factors (hypoxia)
Analgesics, fluid, and oxygen during pain crisis
Hydroxyurea to decrease painful crises
Bone marrow transplant
What type of antibodies would produce “cold” autoimmune hemolytic anemia symptoms?
IgM
What type of antibodies would produce “warm” autoimmune hemolytic anemia symptoms?
IgG
Smear shows
Polychromasia
Spherocytosis
Positive Coombs
What do you suspect?
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
What are the treatments for warm and cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia?
Cold- avoid cold
Warm- corticosteroids
Which anemia is caused by antibodies to RBCs being directed against ABO/Rh blood group antigens?
Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction
What are some symptoms of hemolytic transfusion reaction anemia?
Fever Severe hypotension Severe flank pain Pain at infusion site Chest tightness N/V/D
What type of anemia is a rare acquired stem cell mutation that may progress to myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia?
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
What tests can be used to diagnose paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Flow cytometry
Osmotic fragility test
Coombs (negative)
What is the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Monoclonal antibody against complement C5
Steroids
Stem cell transplant
Folic acid supplementation
What type of anemia is an acquired abnormality of hematopoietic stem cells?
Aplastic anemia
What is treatment for aplastic anemia?
Bone marrow transplant (preferred treatment)
Treat underlying cause
Hematology referral
Transfusions
Immunosuppressants if no bone marrow transplant
What is considered a major risk factor for recurrent VTE?
Previous thrombotic event
What is Virchow’s triad?
Stasis
Vessel wall injury
Hypercoagulability
What are classic symptoms of a DVT?
Larger calf diameter Swelling Pain Warmth Erythema Palpable cord
What can be used to calculate a patients probability of a DVT before any diagnostic tests?
Wells Criteria
What are some of the Wells criteria?
Bedridden Surgery Swelling Pitting edema Cancer Alternative diagnosis more likely (-2 points)
If pt has a low or moderate probability for DVT according to Wells score, what should you do next?
D-dimer should be obtained
When is a D-dimer useful?
Sensitive, but not specific
Only useful when negative and low clinical suspicion