Hamatology

Question 1

What is anaemia?

Answer 1

Low haemoglobin levels in the blood

Question 2

What is Mean Cell/Corpuscular Volume (MCV)?

Answer 2

The size/volume of the red blood cell

Question 3

What does macrocytic mean?

Answer 3

Larger cell than normal - MCV >95

Question 4

What does normocytic mean?

Answer 4

Normal RBC size - MCV = 80-95

Question 5

What does microcytic mean?

Answer 5

Smaller cell size than normal - MCV < 80

Question 6

What is Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH)?

Answer 6

The amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell

Question 7

What does hypochromic mean?

Answer 7

Less haemoglobin than normal in a cell - low MCH
Red blood cells will look pale

Question 8

What does normochromic mean?

Answer 8

Normal amount of haemoglobin in RBCs - normal MCH

Question 9

What is reticulocyte count?

Answer 9

Number of ‘young’ RBCs
Measure of erythrocyte production

Question 10

How is anaemia classified?

Answer 10

By erythrocyte size:
- microcytic
- normocytic
- macrocytic

Question 11

Give some examples of microcytic anaemias

Answer 11

Iron deficiency
Thalassaemias

Question 12

Give some examples of normocytic anaemias

Answer 12

Sickle Cell disease
CKD
Haemolytic anaemias
Acute haemorrhage

Question 13

Give some examples of macrocytic anaemias

Answer 13

Vitamin B12 deficiency
Folate/folic acid deficiency
Alcohol excess
Liver disease
Raised immunoglobulins

Question 14

What is the function of vitamin B12 in the body?

Answer 14

DNA synthesis
Fatty acid metabolism - maintenance of myelin sheath on nerves

Question 15

How is B12 absorbed

Answer 15

Found in animal products
Binds to intrinsic factor and absorbed in terminal ileum

Question 16

What are the causes of B12 deficiency?

Answer 16

Pernicious anaemia - loss of intrinsic factor production
Malabsorption - Coeliac and Crohn’s Disease, small bowel resection
Malnutrition - takes years to develop since stores last 3 years