Hematologic Anemias Flashcards
erythrocyte
- red blood cell
- produced in the bone marrow
reticulocyte
immature erythrocyte (day 1 or 2 in the blood stream)
anemia
deficient number of RBCs
mean corpuscle volume
size of cell
normocytic
normal sized cells
microcytic
smaller than normal size cells
macrocytic
larger than normal sized cells
hemoglobin
four folded globin chains (2 alpha 2 beta)
hemolytic anemia
abnormal hemolysis or breakdown of RBCs
RBC function
- primary function is to transport hemoglobin which carries oxygen and transports it to the tissue
- also contains carbonic anhydrase which catalyzes the CO2 hydration reaction (so helps transport CO2 in the form of HCO3- to the lungs for removal)
erythropoietin (EPO)
- a glycoprotein formed in the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells
- any condition that decreases oxygen transport to the tissues will stimulate production of EPO
erythropoiesis
- RBC production and maturation
- starts in the bone marrow –> pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell –> proerythroblast –> erythroblast
- erythroblast loses its nucleus and some organelles and becomes a reticulocyte
- reticulocyte spends 3 days in marrow and then is ejected into the blood
- reticulocyte spends 1 day in the blood
- loses remaining organelles and then becomes an erythrocyte
what percentage of circulating RBCs are retics?
~1%
anemia
- reduced number of circulating RBCs
- main adverse effect = decreased oxygen carrying capacity
- WHO definition = Hgb less than 12 g/dL for women and less than 13 g/dL for men
physiologic anemia
- occurs during pregnancy
- due to a decreased Hct in relation to plasma volume
polycythemia
- increase in circulating RBCs
- main adverse effect is increased blood viscosity
causes of anemia
- blood loss
- decreased production of RBCs
- increased destruction of RBCs
types of blood loss anemia
- acute blood loss
- chronic blood loss
acute blood loss
- the body replaces fluid portion of plasma in 1-3 days
- leaves low concentration of RBCs
- RBC concentration usually returns to normal in 3-6 weeks
chronic blood loss
- cannot absorb enough iron from the gut to make Hgb as rapidly as it is lost
- RBCs are then produced much smaller and have little Hgb inside
- microcytic hypochromic anemia
transfusion triggers
- “10/30 rule” = transfuse if the Hb level is <10 g/dL or the Hct is 30%; however no evidence that Hb levels below this mandate transfusion
- Hb levels below 6g/dL = clear evidence that patients benefit from transfusion
- must take into account patient’s medical history, ongoing bleeding, and risk of end-organ dysfunction
diseases transmitted by RBC transfusions
- Hep B
- Hep C
- HIV
immunomodulatory effects associated with transfusion
- cancer recurrence
- bacterial infections
- TRALI or TACO
- hemolytic transfusion reactions
EBL <15%
rarely requires transfusion
EBL 30%
replacement with crystalloids or albumins
EBL 30-40%
RBC transfusion
EBL >50%
MTP
may need accompanied FFP and platelets ratios 1:1:1
decreased production anemias
- iron deficiency
- autoimmune
increased destruction anemias
- thalassemia
- hemolytic anemia
- sickle cell