General Anaemia Overview (Red Cells 2) Flashcards

1
Q

What is anaemia?

A

When you’re haemoglobin is below normal for your age and sex

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2
Q

What should your haemoglobin levels be as a male 12-70?

A

140-180

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3
Q

What should your haemoglobin levels be for >70?

A

116-156

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4
Q

What should your haemoglobin levels be for a female 12-70?

A

120-160

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5
Q

What should your haemoglobin levels be for a female >70?

A

108-143

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6
Q

Why have males got a higher haemoglobin count?

A

due to the presence of androgens

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7
Q

What are the general features of anaemia?

A

Cause = reduced oxogen delivery to the tissues

  • tiredness
  • breathlessness
  • ankle oedema
  • dizziness
  • chest pain
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8
Q

what does jaundice signify?

A

that you’re breaking down haemoglobin too fast and theres too much UNCONJUGATED haemoglobin in your blood.

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9
Q

What are signs of bleeding?

A

dyspepsia

peri rectal bleeding

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10
Q

what are signs of malabsorption?

A

weight loss

diarrhoea

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11
Q

What is MCV?

A

Mean cell volume (size)

82-100

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12
Q

What is MCH?

A

Mean cell haemoglobin

MCH = 27-32

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13
Q

what are the types of cells found in anaemia?

A
  • Hypochromic, microcytic
  • Normochromic, Normocytic
  • Macrocytic
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14
Q

What are examples of hypo chromic, microcytic anaemias?

A

Iron deficiency anaemia
Thalassaemia
Secondary anaemia

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15
Q

What are examples of normochromic, normocytic anaemias?

A
Haemolytic anaemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
G6PD deficiency
Sickle cell disease
Auto-immune haemolytic anaemia
Severe infection
Secondary anaemia 
Hypoplasia
Marrow infiltration
Leukaemias
Haemorrhage
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16
Q

What are examples of macrocytic anaemia?

A
B12 deficiency (usually pernicious anaemia)
Folate deficiency
Alcohol abuse
Drug-induced 
Congenital bone marrow failures
16
Q

What are examples of macrocytic anaemia?

A
B12 deficiency (usually pernicious anaemia)
Folate deficiency
17
Q

What is the total iron in the body?

A

4g

18
Q

How does the body obtain iron?

A

Most iron is recycled.

New iron is absorbed at the duodenum.

19
Q

Where is iron taken up?

A

At the duodenum.
Into the bone marrow - to make RBCs.
into the muscles - where its used.
Into the liver - where excess is taken to be stored.

20
Q

Which molecule binds to iron to transport it through the plasma?

A

Transferrin - binds to iron in the plasma as a transport molecule.

21
Q

Which molecule does iron bind to which allows it to cross the cell membrane?

A

Ferroprotein

22
Q

Which molecule does iron bind to which allows it to be stored?

A

Iron binds to ferritin and is stored in the liver.

23
Q

which molecule controls iron movement around the body?

A

Hepcidin - blocks ferroprotein from moving iron out of the cell membrane to be used.

24
Q

When is hepcidin made?

A

Hepcidin is made when theres enough iron in the bone marrow and muscles.

When there snot enough iron, hepcidin is turned off.

25
Q

When is hepcidin also increased?

A

It is increased when theres enough iron in the body.

AND during inflammation - this is why you can have anaemia (because your cells are not getting enough iron) - despite you having large enough iron stores.

26
Q

What is pancytopenia?

A

Low levels of ALL blood cell types:
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Platelets

27
Q

When should you be wary of giving blood transfusions in someone with anaemia?

A

When it has been a chronic condition and the patient has become physiologically adapted to the anaemia.

Because you could induce heart failure.

So you should only give 1 unit of blood to begin.

28
Q

If someone is haemolysing what blood levels will be altered?

A
Low haptoglobin (as free haemoglobin will have increased and bound to it)
High reticulocyte count
29
Q

What does a DAGT/DAT positive result mean?

A

There are antibodies on the surface of red blood cells = immune haemolysis.

30
Q

What is common about most people with sickle cell disease?

A

Their spleen doesn’t function as they age (hyposplenic).

31
Q

What is a dangerous side effect of blood transfusion?

A

Iron deposition in the endocrine organs and the heart.

Treatment is chelation therapy.