Haemolytic Anaemia Flashcards
What are the differences between intravascular and extravascular hemolysis?
Intravascular: The breakdown of RBC within blood vessels.
Extravascular: The breakdown of RBCs in the reticuloenothelial system eg. Spleen, liver, bone marrow.
What enzyme is releases from RBCs during Hemolysis?
Lactate dehydrogenase
What is a reticulocyte?
Immature RBC
Anuclear
Larger than erythrocytes
Contain RNA
What are the causes of Reticulocytosis?
▪️Hemolysis
▪️Hemorrhage
What are the causes of decreased reticulocyte numbers?
▪️Aplastic anaemia
▪️Chemotherapy
▪️Bone marrow malignancy
▪️Deficiencies in iron, folate and cobalamin
What is polychromatic?
B)What does it indicate?
Means many different colours
It is due to the release of many RBCs of different ages.
B) ▪️Damages bone marrow e.g. Metastasis
▪️Raised EPO levels due to anaemia
What is haptoglobin?
B) What is it function?
Haptoglobin is a protein, which is produced by the liver.
B) Haptoglobin bind to the hemoglobin which is released from RBC.
▪️The haptoglobin then transports the free hemoglobin to the liver, for conversion to bilirubin.
What are Schistocytes?
B)What do they indicate?
Fragmented RBC
B) Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemias e.g. DIC and HUS
What is hereditary spherocytosis?
Genetic defects that cause changes to the RBC membrane.
These changes make the RBC less flexible, which means that more Cells are trapped in the microcirculation of the spleen etc… (Extravascular hemolysis).
Condition causes Splenomegaly
What is hereditary eliptocytosis?
Genetic
Defects in RBC membrane protein, cause changes in RBC shape to form eliptocytes
Eliptocytes are less flexible and more to becoming trapped within the microcirculation of the spleen, causing hemolysis (extravascular hemolysis).
What is the function of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase?
This is an enzyme which is responsible for producing NADPH.
NADPH, helps to maintain levels of glutathione in the body.
Glutathione is important because it acts as an ANTIOXIDANT, (protects RBCs from oxidative damage).
How does glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency lead to hemolysis?
▪️🔽NADPH
▪️🔽Glutathione
▪️🔽RBC protection from oxidative damage
▪️⬆️Hemolysis (intravascular hemolysis)
G6PD is an X-linked recessive disorder.
How are haptoglobin levels used in the investigations for hemolysis?
With an increase in hemolysis, more Hb is released, which binds to haptoglobin.
Therefore, REDUCED levels of haptoglobin indicate hemolysis (both intravascular and extravascular).
