Haematology Flashcards
Describe the types of Haemoglobin
HbA - 2 x alpha & 2 x beta chains (common, adults)
HbA2 - 2 x alpha & 2 x delta chains (less common, adults)
HbF - 2 x alpha & x gamma chains (foetal)
Name some classical anaemia symptoms
Fatigue, lethargy
Headaches
Palpitations
Dyspnoea
Brittle hair and nails
Faintness, syncope
Anorexia
How are the types of anaemia classified?
Mean cell volume
Microcytic - < 80
Normocytic 80 - 100
Macrocytic > 100
Name the types of microcytic anaemia
TAILS
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of Chronic Disease
Iron-deficiency
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic
What’s the most common type of microcytic anaemia?
Iron-deficiency
Causes Iron-def anaemia
**Hookworm - leading cause
Poor diet (esp in children/babies in poverty)
↑ Demands for O2 e.g. growth, pregnancy
Malabsorption e.g. coeliac disease
GI bleeding
Menorrhagia
RF Iron-def anaemia
LICs
High veg diet
Premature infants
Late intro to mixed feed - breast milk contains low iron
Key presentation of Iron-Def anaemia
Same baseline symptoms
Additional signs/symptoms of IDA
Atrophic glossitis - tongue inflammation
Koilonychia - spoon shaped nail
Angular stomatitis - inflammation of corners of mouth
What conditions protect from Plasmodium falciparum malaria?
Sickle Cell Disease
Thalassaemia
G6PDH Deficiency
Ix Iron-Def anaemia
Blood count & film - RBC microcytic and hypochromic
Poikilocytosis and anisocytosis
Serum ferritin - low
Reticulocyte count - reduced
Why might serum ferritin be normal even if a patient has Iron-Def anaemia?
might have malignancy or infection, usually rises ∴ negates and is normal
Tx Iron-Def anaemia
Ferrous sulphate - oral iron
For at least 3 months
Side effects of ferrous sulphate
What can you give is S/E are too bad?
Black stool (melena)
Constipation/Diarrhoea
Nausea
GI upset
Abd discomfort
Ferrous gluconate
If very severe Iron-Def (e.g. severe malabsorption), what is the Tx?
Parenteral iron e.g. IV iron or deep IM iron
Once Iron-Def anaemia is treated, how long does it usually take for iron stores to be replenished?
6 months
Iron studies for IDA
Ferritin - Low/Normal/High
Serum iron - Low
Transferrin - High
Transferrin sat - Low
TIBC - High
Iron studies for Anaemia of Chronic Disease
Ferritin - Normal/Raised
Serum Iron - Low
Transferrin - Low
Transferrin sat - Normal/Low
TIBC - Low
Iron studies for Thalassaemia
Ferritin - Normal/Raised
Serum Iron - Normal/Raised
Transferrin - Normal/Low
Transferrin Sat - Normal/Raised
TIBC - Normal/Low
Causes of alpha thalassaemia
Caused by mutation - gene deletions
↓ a - chain synthesis
Where is the gene for alpha-globin chains?
Duplicated on both chromosome 16s
If 1 alpha-globin gene deletion,
Usually normal blood picture
Asymptomatic
If 2 alpha-globin gene deletion,
Microcytosis with or without mild anaemia
Carrier for alpha-thalassaemia
If 3 alpha-globin gene deletion,
↓↓ reduction of alpha-chain synthesis
∴ HbH disease