Haematology In Systemic Disease Flashcards
What is anaemia of chronic disease/inflamamtion
Dyserythropoiesis
1. Iron dysregulation: iron not released for use in bone marrow
2. the marrow shows a lack of response to erythropoietin
3. reduced lifespan of red cells
Renal disease, inflammatory conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s), chronic infections etc.
What is functional iron deficiency
Sufficient iron in the body but not available to the
developing erythroid cells
Plenty of iron in the macrophages but they cant give it to the red cells that need it
What is the main source of iron for new rbcs?
Macrophages ‘eat’ old senescent RBCs and recycle iron
Iron recycling is the main source of iron for new rbc
Small amount of iron absorbed from gut
What is hepcidin regulated by?
Regulated by:
HFE
Transferrin receptor
Inflammatory cytokines
What is the role of hepcidin
Degrades ferroportin a protein involved in moving iron out of cells - prevents iron release from macrophages and prevents iron absorption from gut
What do inflammatory cytokines do in anaemia of chronic disease ?
Iron dysregulation: iron not released for use in bone marrow
Due to inflammatory cytokines
the marrow shows a lack of response to erythropoietin
Due to inflammatory cytokines
reduced lifespan of red cells
Due to inflammatory cytokines
What is anaemia of chronic renal failure?
Reduced erythropoietin production due to damage to kidneys
Often associated with raised cytokines
Reduced clearance of hepcidin
Increased hepcidin production due to inflammatory cytokines
Dialysis-damage to rbc and loss due to bleeding
Reduced lifespan of RBC as a direct effect of uraemia - Also inhibits megakaryocytes leading to low platelet counts
What are investigations into acd?
Often normocytic normochromic or microcytic anaemia
Normal or high ferritin
Normal or high Reticulocyte Haemoglobin content (CHr)
CRP often elevated
In most ppl, ferritin is best test of iron stores - ferritin produced by liver -
in some patients ferritin levels high (liver disease) - liver pushing it out - in these patients it is not. A good measure -
chr low is iron deficient . Chr will be normal/high if enough /a lot of iron stores -
You may read about: Low serum iron and normal/high % transferrrin saturation Not very reliable
What is the treatment for ACD?
Treat the underlying condition
If associated renal failure
Recombinant human Erythropoietin
Must have all building blocks e.g Iron and Vit B12/folate
Ensure Vit B12 folate and iron stores are adequate
Transfuse, if all else fails and patient is symptomatic - transfuse sparingly and only i patient is clinically symptomatic
What is the management of anaemia of chronic renal failure
Use Reticulocyte Haemoglobin Content (CHr) (or % hypochromic cells) to assess for functional iron deficiency - Iron given intravenously for patients with anaemia of renal failure
Give iron if ferritin <200 mg/L (normal range 15-400mg/L ) or CHr low then give iron
Iron given as IV as absorption is impaired (….Hepcidin)
What are abnormalities in RBCs in renal disease?
Low • ARF/ACD • Blood loss • Haematinic causes
High • Post renal transplant • Renal tumour
What are abnormalities in WBCs in renal disease?
Low: • immunosuppression
post renal transplant
drugs; • marrow infiltration eg in
myeloma
High • inflammation • connective tissue
disease • Infection • drugs: steroids - Steroids to damp down immune cause of renal failure
What are abnormalities in platelets in renal disease?
Low • direct effect of uraemia on platelet production • drugs • Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
High • reactive • bleeding • iron deficiency
How is rheumatoid arthritis treated
Chronic immune mediated inflammatory condition Treated with ◦ analgesis often NSAIDs ◦ Corticosteroids ◦ chemotherapy eg methotrexate ◦ biological agents
What are abnormalities in RBCs in rheumatoid arthritis?
Low • ACD • blood loss eg
due to NSAIDs/corticost eroids • Haematinic • Immune
