Erythrocytes Flashcards
What do erythrocyte (red blood cell) indices/levels indicate?
+ What level of haemoglobin the patient has > their ability to to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide
What do leucocyte indices/levels indicate?
+ whether the patient is slightly immunosuppressed and the state of their defence mechanisms
What do platelet indices/levels indicate?
+ The ability of the patient to respond to areas where bleeding is occurring
What is the PVC/haematocrit?
Packed Cell Volume: the volume taken up by red blood cells after centrifugation/”being spun down”
What is MCV and the associated calculation?
+ Mean Corpuscular Value/average volume of a single red blood cell
Volume of large no. of RBCs / no. of RBCs
MCV = PCV or Hct / RBC
What is MCH and the associated calculation?
+ Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin/average amount of haemoglobin in one RBC
Amount of Hb in large no. of RBCs / no. of RBCs
MCH = Hb / RBC
What is MCHC and what is the associated equation?
+ Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration/average concentration of haemoglobin in one/many RBCs
Amount of Hb in one/many RBCs / Volume of one/many RBCs
MCHC = MCH / MCV
What is the normal range for MCV?
~ 80-95 fl
What is the normal range for MCH?
~ 27-31 pg
What is the range of normal values for haemoglobin?
+ Male: 130 - 170 g/L
+ Female: 115 - 160 g/L
What is the range of normal values for red cell count?
+ Male: 4.3 - 5.7 x10^12 /L
+ Female: 3.9 - 5.1 x10^12 /L
What is the range of normal values for haematocrit or PCV?
+ Male: 0.39 - 0.50 l/l
+ Female: 0.34 - 0.47 l/l
What is anaemia?
+ Reduction in haemoglobin or red cell concentration in the blood
+ Reduced supply of oxygen to the tissues (tissue hypoxia)
What are some symptoms of anaemia?
\+ Fatigue \+ Headaches \+ Palpitations \+ Weakness \+ Breathlessness
What are some signs of anaemia?
+ Pallid/Pallor
+ Glossitis (inflamed tongue)
+ Angular Stomatitis
+ Koilonychia (spoon shaped nails)