Haematology 1 Flashcards
What is haematopoiesis?
A process through which all blood cells are derived.
What is the haematopoietic system composed of?
Bone marrow, spleen, liver, lymph nodes and thymus.
Why do all cells in blood start as?
What does this cell then differentiate into (2 options)?
Haemopoietic stem cell
Lymphoid progenitor cells and myeloid progenitor cell
What normal haemoglobin level does an adult male have?
130-170mg
What normal haemoglobin level does an adult female have?
120-155mg
What happens to red blood cells in anemia?
They have a reduction level in haemoglobin below normal.
less oxygen to body
What are the symptoms and what are the signs for anemia?
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Headaches
- Chest pain
Signs
- Pale appearance
- Tachycardia
- Wide pulse pressures
- Systolic flow murmors
- Congestive cardiac failure
What are the 4 reasons why anemia can develop?
1) Reduced red blood cell production
2) Increased red blood cell destruction (haemolytic anaemia)
3) Loss of red blood cells from the circulation
4) Dilutional effect from increased blood plasma
What are the 3 classifications of anemia cells?
1) Microcytic
2) Normocytic
3) Macrocytic
What is microcytic anaemia mainly caused by and how do we manage this?
- IRON DEFICIENCY
3 ways:
- Poor intake in diet
- Malabsorption
- Increased loss (through peptic ulceration, inflammatory bowel disease)
Management:
- Treat underlying cause
- Oral supplementation
- Blood transfusion if severe
What is normocytic anemia and how it is caused?
Abnormal RBC due to other diseases
- Chronic inflammatory condition (arthritis)
- Chronic infections e.g. TB
- Chronic renal disease
- Malignancies
What is macrocytic anemia and what are the two types?
Enlarged RBC.
- Megaloblastic erythopoiesis
- Normoblastic erythropoisis
What is megaloblastic anaemia?
folate cause
- Associated with folate deficiencies
- Derived from many food sources
CAUSES OF DEFICIENCY:
- Inadequate intake (elderly, alcoholism)
- Malabsorption (Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, resection)
- Increased requirement (pregnancy)
- Increased loss (dialysis, liver disease, congestive heart failure)
- Drugs (methotrexate, phenytoin, trimethoprism)
Explain megaloblastic anaemia in terms of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B deficiency:
Can be due to…
- Inadequate intake
- Inadequate section of intrinsic factor
- Inadequate release from food
- Diversion of dietary B12
- Malabsorption
What are clinical features of folate and B12 deficiencies in megaloblastic anaemia?
Folate and Vitamin B12
- Generic symptoms of anemia
- Occasionally mild jaundice
- Glossitis
- Oral ulceration
Vitamin B12
- Periphery neuropathy
- Demyelination with subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord
- Dementia