hematology week 1 Flashcards
- What are symptoms common to all anemias?
Pallor, fatigue, dyspnea, tachypnea – primary anemia sxs
Next step is to find out why
- Why might anemia accompany each of the following conditions:
a. GI disease
b. Kidney disease
c. Heart valve disease
d. Inflammatory disorders
a. GI disease – not absorbing req nutrients to make RBCs; GI cancer
b. Kidney disease – low EPO
c. Heart valve disease – can cause hemolysis
d. Inflammatory disorders – RA, lupus, etc….autoimmune Ab; anemia of chronic dz: body stops producing RBCs
- What dietary deficiencies might contribute to the development of anemia?
Fe (dietary deficiency is rare); B12, folate
- Why is it important to ask about the following lifestyle factors in a work-up for anemia?
a. Alcohol use
b. IV drug use
c. Marathon running
d. Toxic exposures
i. Lead
ii. Benzene
a. Alcohol use – bone marrow doesn’t like alcohol
b. IV drug use – heart valve issues; toxicity to blood cells
c. Marathon running – lots of running causes hemolysis
d. Toxic exposures – hard on blood cells
i. Lead
ii. Benzene
- What are the diagnostic criteria for anemia?
Labs – low Hb, Hct, and/or RBC number; peripheral smear
- What is the most common form of anemia?
Fe-def
- What is the most likely cause of iron deficiency in premenopausal women?
Excessive menstruation (too frequent, long, heavy)
- What is the most likely cause of iron deficiency in postmenopausal women and adult males?
Occult bleeding (in the GI)
- What signs and symptoms are more likely to be found with iron deficiency anemia than with other anemias?
Glossitis, cheilosis, koilonychias. Also pica – the desire to eat earth; restless legs, hair loss
- How will each of the following lab results be affected by Fe deficiency:
a. MCV
b. MCHC
c. Ferritin
d. TIBC
a. MCV – microcytic
b. MCHC – hypochromic
c. Ferritin – low
d. TIBC – high
CBC might look normal early but iron things will look off.
- What are some causes of acquired sideroblastic anemia?
Iron is sufficient but cannot make good heme: Alcoholism, lead poisoning, Cu deficiency, hypothermia.
- How will the labs for sideroblastic anemia be different than for Fe deficiency?
Stippled/target RBCs; high ferritin, low TIBC
- When might you suspect anemia of chronic disease?
They have a chronic inflammatory condition and possibly signs of anemia as well
- What lab result might suggest anemia due to kidney disease?
Low serum EPO
- What dietary deficiencies most commonly cause megaloblastic anemia?
B12 and/or folate
o B12 deficiency can be caused by vegan diet, gastric abnormalities (pernicious anemia, gastrectomy, gastritis), celiac disease and other malabsorption syndromes, pancreatitis, drugs (e.g. proton pump inhibitors).
o Folate deficiency is caused by poor dietary intake, malabsorption, drugs, alcohol
- What might be seen on physical exam with B12 deficiency?
Symmetric numbness of hands and feet (glove and stocking peripheral neuropathy), glossitis, diarrhea, muscle wasting.
- What will the following show with megaloblastic anemia?
a. CBC
b. Peripheral smear
c. Bone marrow biopsy
a. CBC – high MCV
b. Peripheral smear – Howell-jolly bodies
c. Bone marrow biopsy – high levels of produced cells
- What else (besides B12/folate deficiency) can cause macrocytosis?
liver disease, alcoholism (independent of folate), aplastic anemia, and myelodysplasia
- What is aplastic anemia?
Some exposure poisoning the bone marrow (usually reversible) so blood cell precursors are gone.
- What are signs/symptoms of aplastic anemia?
Infections (low WBCs), bleeding (low platelets)
- What will the following show with aplastic anemia?
a. CBC
b. Bone marrow biopsy
a. CBC – low count of CBC, RBC, and platelets
b. Bone marrow biopsy – acellular
- Distinguish between the terms myelophthisic, myeloproliferative, myelodysplastic, and aplastic.
Myelophthisic anemia:
• Marrow is replaced by a tumor, granuloma, lipid storage disease, or fibrosis
• Extramedullary hematopoiesis or disruption of marrow causes release of immature cells.
Aplastic/Hypoplastic anemia:
• Anemia that results from loss of blood cell precursors in the bone marrow.
Myeloproliferative:
• Excessive cell production by the bone marrow
Myelodysplastic:
• Damaged stem cells in the bone marrow
- How might a hemolytic anemia present differently than an iron deficiency anemia in terms of:
a. Signs and symptoms
b. PE
c. Labs
a. Signs and symptoms – jaundice, dark urine (bilirubin), gallstones made of bilirubin (pigmented)
b. PE – splenomegaly, jaundice, signs of anemia
c. Labs – increased reticulocytes (big demand for RBC), high serum bilirubin, high serum LDH (RBC energy source), low free haptoglobin (will be bound to the serum hemoglobin)
- What lab test is most useful to distinguish autoimmune hemolytic anemia from other types of anemia?
Coomb’s test – tells if you make Ab to RBCs
- What kinds of anemia are due to problems with the RBC membrane?
Hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis; stomatocytosis.
RBCs end up not making it through the vessels efficiently due to shape.
- Why does G6PD deficiency cause hemolysis?
RBCs are unable to make enough energies to repair themselves from oxidative damage.
- What lab will distinguish G6PD deficiency from other hemolytic anemias?
G6PD assay.
Can also see Heinz bodies and ‘bite cells’ (where spleen takes out the Heinz body but leaves the rest of the cell
- What types of anemia are more common in Africans and African Americans?
Sickle cell, G6PD deficiency, thalassemia