haemolytic anaemia Flashcards
what are clinical features of haemolytic anaemia?
- Anaemia due to the reduction in circulating red blood cells
- Splenomegaly as the spleen becomes filled with destroyed red blood cells
- Jaundice as bilirubin is released during the destruction of red blood cells
what are inherited causes of haemolytic anaemia?
Hereditary Spherocytosis
Hereditary Elliptocytosis
Thalassaemia
Sickle Cell Anaemia
G6PD Deficiency
what the causes of acquired haemolytic anaemia?
- Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Alloimmune haemolytic anaemia (transfusions reactions and haemolytic disease of newborn)
- Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
- Prosthetic valve related haemolysis
what type of anaemia will haemolytic anaemia cause?
normocytic anaemia
which investigations would you like to do when suspecting haemolytic anaemia and what will they show?
- Full blood count shows a normocytic anaemia
- Blood film shows schistocytes (fragments of red blood cells)
- Direct Coombs test is positive in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
what is the inheritance pattern for hereditary spherocytosis?
autosomal dominant, causing sphere shaped blood cells which are fragile and easily break down when passing through the spleen
what happens to reticulocytes in hereditary spherocytosis?
reticulocytes go up as there is a rapid turn over of rbc
which viral infection mmay cause aplastic crisis in someone with HS?
parvovirus
how can hereditary spherocytosis present?
- jaundice
- gallstones
- splenomegaly
- aplastic crisis with parvovirus
what is the management of hereditary spherocytosis?
- folate supplementation
- spplenectomy
- cholecystectomy if there is a gallstone issue
how does hereditary ellipocytosis differ from HS?
RBC are ellipse shaped, but otherwise present and ar managed the same
also inherited in an autosomal fashion
what is the inheritence pattern for g6pd deficiency?
x linked recessive- only in males
more common in mediteraenean and african population
what is seen on the blood film of g6pd deficiency?
heinze bodies
what are the triggers for g6pd deficiency?
- infections
- medicatons
- broad beans
causing gallstones, anaemia, splenomegaly and heinze bpodies
what are the 2 types of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
warm type: more common, haemolysis occurs at normal or above normal temps, and the cause is idiopathic
cold: happens at lower temperatures <10degrees . antibodies against rbc cause them to agglutinate, this results in destruction of RBC by the immune system. cold type haemolytic anaemia is usually secondary to…
- lymphoma
- leukaemia
- SLE
- EBV
- mycoplasma