Hematology Flashcards
Hemoglobin
Hematology
Oxygen-carrying protein in blood
Hematocrit
Hematology
Portion of RBC; plasma in blood
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Hematology
Average size of RBCs
- volume
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)
Hematology
Average mass of hemoglobin per RBC
- “color or capacity”
RBC Distribution Width (RDW)
Hematology
Measures variation of RBC size
Anemia
Hematology
Reduction in the number of RBCs, the quantity of hemoglobin, & the volume of packed RBCs
Causes:
1.) ↓ RBC production (bone marrow infiltrtation / injury, nutriiton deficiency, ineffective erythropoiesis, erythropoietin deficiency)
2.) blood loss (trauma, destruction, or hemolysis)
Microcytic Anemia
Hematology
Cell is physically small
- usually characterized by ↓ MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) & ↓ MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglboin)
Macrocytic Anemia
Hematology
Unusually large RBC
- enough supplies in the factory but there are not enough workers
- large RBCs
Normocytic Anemia
Hematology
Destruction or ↓ # of RBCs
- normal sized RBC & normal MCV
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Hematology
Microcytic Anemia due to lack of iron (low ferritin)
- Primarily affects toddlers who drink a lot of milk (more than 16-24 oz / day) & adolescents with menorrhagia or GI bleeding
Signs & Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Hematology
- irritability
- pallor
- fatigue
- pica
- tachypnea
- cardiomegaly
- angular stomatitis (angular cheilitis)
- elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, RBC count, & reticulocyte count
Normal hemoglobin = 10.2 - 13.4 g/dL (anything below 11 g/dL indicates anemia)
Iron Deficiency Anemia Treatment
Hematology
Supplemental iron; 2-5 mcg/kg/day
- take with vitamin C for improved absorption
- do NOT take with milk (Ca+ inhibits abnorption)
- labs will likely return to normal in 2 months
Side Effects: GI, N/V, constipation, dark stools
Cause of Macrocytic Anemia
Hematology
Often caused by Vitamin B-12 (folate) deficiency
Cause of Microcytic / iron deficiency anemia
Hematology
Low iron (ferritin)
Mainly impacts:
* toddlers who drink a lot of milk
* adolescents w/ GI bleed or menorrhagia
Sickle Cell Anemia
Hematology
Sickle-shaped RBCs (sickle cell hemoglobin - HbS)
- As cells lose their donut shape, they become sickle shaped which causes them to be stiff, “sticky”, & obstructive
- Type of normocytic anemia
- autosomal recessive
- affects African American or Mediterranean
- sickle cells have a decreased life span of 10-20 days compared to normal RBCs which have a lifespan of 120 days
- The bone marrow then cannot keep up to replace the cells & patients are chronically anemic
- HIGH reticulocytes