Haematology Flashcards
3 classic Sx of anaemia?
fatigue, dyspnoea, faintness
When is anaemia severe? name 2 signs ?
< 8g/dL
Tachycardia
Flow murmur
Cardiac enlargement
Increased cardiac output
what transports iron?
transferrin
where is iron stored
ferritin, haemosiderin
Name 3 things on presentation with Fe deficiency anaemia
Pallor
Nail changes - Koilonychia (spoon), brittleness
Hair loss
Mouth changes - Angular stomatitis, atrophic glossitis
Classic 3
Fatigue
Faintness
Dyspnoea
What are the general causes of iron deficiency
Inadequate intake
Poor absorption
Excessive loss
Excessive iron requirement
Name 3 Ix in Iron deficiency anaemia and 2 things seen on bloods
Hb <13g/dL (men), <12g/dL (women)
MCV - microcytic
Peripheral blood smear
Iron studies - Low iron / ferritin
Ix for cause
Coeliac (malabsorption), H. pylori (basically eats iron), endoscopy (bleed or Malab)
Why might ferritin be unexpectedly high in iron deficiency
It is an acute phase protein so will increase if inflammation, infection and malignancy
2 key DDx for iron deficiency anaemia
chronic disease
sideroblastic anaemia (bone marrow produces sideroblasts rather than normal erythrocytes)
mx of iron deficiency
oral replacement - ferrous sulphate
consider transfusion
SE of ferrous sulphate
constipation, black stools, vomit
When would you think this pt has sideroblastic anaemia
microcytic hypochromic anaemia NOT responding to iron
Pathology and What causes sideroblastic anaemia
Ineffective erythropoesis - cant incorporate iron into Hb
Congenital - inherited XLSA (x-linked)
Acquired - MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), myeloma, PRV, pyridoxine (B6) deficiency
name 3 Ix in sideroblastic anaemia. Make sure you know the last one
Hb - low
MCV - microcytic
Peripheral blood smear
Iron studies - Iron / ferritin high
Marrow aspirate - Perinuclear ring of iron granules with Prussian Blue
Mx of sideroblastic
iron chelation (gets rid of excess iron in body) - desferrioxamine
Avoid alcohol / vit c (increase iron absorption)
What happens in b thalassaemia
Inherited microcytic anaemia caused by mutation in beta-globin gene
-ineffective erythropoesis
Erythroid hyperplasia
2 Effects of erythroid hyperplasia in b thalassaemia?
Bony changes - skull bossing, vertebral….
hepatosplenomegaly
Name 3 Ix in b thalassaemia
FBC
Peripheral blood smear
Hb anaylsis
LFT
Xray skull for skull bossing
Abdo USS for hepatosplenomegaly
b thal mx points
genetic councelling
transfusion
Iron chelation
splenectomy
Bone marrow transplant
name 3 complications of thalassaemia
thrombotic
iron overload - heart arrhythmia, pituitary, pancreas
transfusion reactions
transfusion infections
splenectomy comps
Reticuloendothelial causes of haemolysis
Macrophages of liver
Spleen
Accelerated red cell destruction due to immune targeting by antibodies
Name 3 hereditary causes of haemolytic anaemia
Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Hereditary spherocytosis,
Sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia
Test for immune mediated haemolytic anaemia
direct antiglobulin +ve (Coombs’ positive)
Name 3 causes of non immune mediated haemolytic anaemia
Infection (e.g. malaria), trauma,
microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (DIC, TTP, HUS, HELLP)
hypersplenism, liver disease
Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
trauma - eg mechanical heart valve
complement mediated lysis