Hematology/Oncology Flashcards
What is Anemia?
Anemia is the reduction below the normal erythrocytes, hemoglobin, or volume of RBCs
What is Hgb?
Hemoglobin. It is the protien in RBCs that combines with a transports O2 to the rest of the body.
What is Hct?
Hematocrit. It is the % of a given volume of whole blood that is occupied by erythrocytes.
What is TIBC?
Total Iron Binding Capacity
What is MCV?
Mean corpuscular volume. Average volume and size of individual erythrocytes.
What is MCH?
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Average amount and weight of Hgb in individual eryhtrocytes.
What conditions does low MCV indicate?
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Thalassemia
What conditioons does high MCV indicate?
- Folate acide deficiency
- Alcoholism
- Liver Failure
- Effects of drugs
What conditions does normocytic cells indicate?
Anemia of chronic disease
Sickle cell disease
Renal failure
Blood loss
Hemolysis
What is IDA?
Iron deficiency anemia is a microcytic, hypochromic anemia due to an overall deficiency of iron
What are common causes of IDA?
- Malnutrition
- Blood loss
- Malabsorption
Signs and symptoms of IDA
- Pica
- Dyspnea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Palpitations
- Weakness
- Tachycardia
- Postural Hypotension
- Pallor
Lab/Diagnostics of IDA
- Low Hgb
- Low HCT
- Low MCV
- Low RBC
- Low serum iron
- Low serum ferritin
- High TIBC
- High RDW
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Management of IDA
- Ferrous Sulfate (up to TID)
- Ferrous Gluconate (up to TID)
Foods high in Iron
- Raisins
- Green leafy vegetables
- Red meats
- Citrus products
- Fortified cereals and bread
What is Thalassemia?
A genetic disorder resulting in abnormal HgB production and microcytic, hypochromic anemia
What populations is thalassemia found in?
Meditteranean
African
Middle Eastern
Indian
Asian
Signs and symptoms of thalassemia
Generally well appearance and PE is unremarkable
Common causes of Thalassemia
Reduced or absent production of beta globin chains resulting in decreased adult hemoglobin production
What are the two types of thalassemia?
Minor and Major
What is thalassemia minor?
Has only one copy of the beta thalassemia chain thats attached to a normal beta-chain gene
What is thalassemia major?
Has two genes for beta-thalassemia with no normal beta chain gene
What are signs and symntoms of Thalassemia major?
- Also called Cooleys anemia
- Anemia within the first few months of life
- Failure to thrive
- Feeding difficulties
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Jaundice
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Maxillary enlargment
Management of Thalassemia
- RBC transfusion
- Folic acid supplementation
- Iron chelation
Laboratory/Diagnositcs for Thalassemia
- Decreaed Hgb
- Low MCV
- Low MCHC
- Normal TIBC
- Normal Ferritin
- Abnormal HBB screen
What is Folic Acid Deficiency?
A macrocytic, normochromic anemia due to folic acid deficiency
What are the causes of folic acid deficiency?
Inadequate intake or malabsorption of folic acid
Signs and Symptoms of folic acid deficiency
- Fatigue
- Dyspnea
- Pallor
- Headache
- Tachycardia
- Anorexia
- Glossitis
- Negative for neurological findings
Laboratory/Diagnostic findings in FAD
- Low Hct
- Low RBC
- Elevated MCV
- Normal MCHC
- Low serum folate
- RBC folate <100 ng/mL
Management of FAD
- Folate, 1 mg, QD
Foods high in folate
- Bannanas
- Peanut butter
- Fish
- Green leafy vegetables
- Fortified breads and cereals