Common Causes of Anaemia and Thrombocytopenia Flashcards
3 common causes of anaemia
Iron, B12, folate deficiencies
Haemolysis
Anaemia of chronic disease
2 common causes of thrombocytopenia
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Thrombocytic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (TTP)
When do you get macrocytic anaemia
Larger RBCs than normal, less Hb in the blood
Causes of macrocytic anaemia
B12, folate deficiencies Metabolic abnormalities (thyroid, liver disease) Marrow damage (alcohol, drugs, marrow disease) Haemolysis (reticulocytes are bigger than mature RBCs)
MCV in macrocytic anaemia
Above normal
Normocytic anaemia
A normocytic anemia is defined as an anemia with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 80-100 which is the normal range. However, the hematocrit and hemoglobin is decreased.
Causes of normocytic anaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease/inflammatory
3 causes of microcytic anaemia
Iron deficiency
Hb disorders
Sometimes chronic disease
Describe the iron balance
No excretion, limited absorption Controlled at the level of the gut mucosa Most iron is thus recycled Absorbed in duodenum Transported by transferrin Stored in ferritin
Lab results of iron deficiency
Microcytic anaemia, small pale RBCs. Low MCV Low MCH Low ferritin increased hypochromic cell %
3 main causes of iron deficiency
Blood loss Increased demand (pregnancy, growth) Decreased intake (diet, malabsorption)
Usual iron deficiency treatment
IV iron
Megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency
Pernicious anaemia
RBCs big and few
Megaloblastic anaemia
3 main causes of megaloblastic anaemia
B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Alcohol