Hemolytic Anemias Flashcards
What are thalessemias?
anemia due to insufficient globin production
What populations are thalassemias most common in?
- Mediterranean
- African
- Asian
What are the types and subtypes of thalessemia?
α-thalassemia
- silent
- α-thalassemia trait
- HgH disease
- hydrops fetalis
β-thalassemia
- β-thalassemia major
- β-thalassemia intermedia
- β-thalassemia minor
What is the mechanism of α-thalassemias?
There are four total α genes located in pairs on chromosome 16
- deletion of one or more of the α genes
- the more copies deleted, the more severe the symptoms
What is silent carrier α-thalassemia?
(symptoms and course)
- deletion of one α gene
- asymptomatic
What would expected lab changes be in silent carrier α-thalaseemia?
- miniscule reduciton in α-chain (electrophoresis)
- normal hemoglobin structure (electrophoresis)
- mild microcytosis
What is α-thalassemia trait?
(symptoms and course)
- deletion of two α genes
- asymptomatic
- mild anemia
What would expected lab changes be in α-thalaseemia trait?
- mild reduciton in α-chain (electrophoresis)
- normal hemoglobin structures, HbA/HbA2 (electrophoresis)
- mild hypochromic, microcytic anemia
What is HgH disease?
(symptoms and course)
-deletion of three α genes
-moderately severe anemia
- formation of β-globin tetramers (HgH)
- high O2 affinity -> hypoxia
- precipitates and forms inclusions (hemolysis in the spleen)
**most common in Asian populations
What would expected lab changes be in HgH disease?
- major reduciton in α-chain (electrophoresis)
- abnormal hemoglobin structures, HgH (electrophoresis)
- moderately severe hypochromic, microcytic anemia
What subtypes of α-thalassemia trait are there?
(what is the significance?)
both clinically identical in the individuals, difference is in children of the individual
Cis (Asians):
- deletions are on same chormosome
- increased risk of HgH in children
Trans (Africans):
- deletions are on different chromosomes
- less risk of HgH in children
What is thalassemic hydrops fetalis?
(symptoms and course)
- deletion of all four α genes
- lethal in utero
- formation of γ-globin tetramers (hemoglobin Barts)
- high O2 affinity -> hypoxia
What would expected lab changes be in thalassemic hydrops fetalis?
- absenece of α-chain (electrophoresis)
- abnormal hemoglobin structures, Hg Barts (electrophoresis)
What is the mechanism of β-thalassemias?
There are two total β genes located on chromosome 11
-mutations resulting no production (β0) or decreased production (β+)
What is β-thalassemia minor?
(symptoms and course)
one normal gene, one defective gene (β/β+) or (β/β0)
-asymptomatic
What would expected lab changes be in β-thalassemia minor?
- mildly decreased HbA (electrophoresis)
- mildly increased HbA2 (electrophoresis) (useful in differentiating from iron deficiecny anemia)
- mild hypochromic, microcytic anemia
- target cells
What is β-thalassemia intermedia?
(symptoms and course)
variable but with at least one partially effective gene (β/β+, β/β0, β+/β+, β+/β0)
- onset shortly after birth (protection by HgF)
- moderately severe anemia, not requiring blood transfusion
What would expected lab changes be in β-thalassemia intermedia?
- decreased HbA (electrophoresis)
- increased HbA<strong>2</strong> (electrophoresis)
- moderately severe hypochromic, microcytic anemia
What is β-thalassemia major?
(symptoms and course)
- no effective gene (β0/β0)
- onset shortly after birth (protection by HgF)
- severe anemia, requiring blood transfusions
- secondary hemochromatosis
- hematopoiesis in the skull
- “crew cut” x-ray
- “chipmunk facies”
- extramedullary hematopoiesis
- hepatosplenomegaly
What would expected lab changes be in β-thalassemia major?
- increased HbF (electrophoresis)
- no/minimal HbA (electrophoresis)
- normal to low HbA2 (electrophoresis)
- severe hypochromic, microcytic anemia
- target cells
- nucleated RBCs
What is pernicious anemia?
autoimmune gastritis resulting in B12 deficiency
What is the common presenation of pernicious anemia?
- older adults (median age 60); uncommon under 30
- more common in Scandanavian caucasians; present in all races
- insidious, severe megaloblastic anemia
- glossitis
What would expected lab changes be in pernicious anemia?
- decreased B12
- increased homocystiene (THF and B12 used in metabolism)
- increased methylmalonic acid (B12 used in metabolism)
- macrocytic anemia
- hypersegmented PMNs
What is the mechanism of pernicious anemia?
-autoimmune T-cell destruction of gastric parietal cells (produce intrinsic factor)
- intrinsic factor is required for absorption of B12 in the ileum
- B12 is used in DNA precursor synthesis
- decreased DNA synthesis is direct cause of megaloblastic anemia
What are possible complications with pernicious anemia?
- damage to spinal cord (B12 needed in mylein production)
- decreased sensation
- spastic paresis
- risk of gastric carcinoma
What are additional causes of B12 deficiency that lead to megaloblastic anemia?
- pancreatic insufficiency (can’t remove salivary haptocorrin)
- fish tapeworm
- gastrectomy (loss of intrensic factor/acid/pepsin)
- achlorhydria (loss of acid, pepsin can’t release B12 from food)
- pregnancy (increased use)
- disseminated cancer (increased use)
- vegans
What is folate deficiency anemia?
macrocytic/megaloblastic anemia due to folate deficiency
What is the common presenation of folate deficiency anemia?
eldery or alcoholics
-relatively rapid (months), severe megaloblastic anemia
-glossitis
What are common causes of folate deficiency?
- inadequate diet
- alcoholism
- elderly
- increased requirement
- pregnancy
- cancer/hyperactive hematopoiesis
- methotrexate (folate antagonist)
What would expected lab changes be in folate deficiency anemia?
- decreased folate
- increased homocystiene (THF and B12 used in metabolism)
- normal methylmalonic acid (B12 used in metabolism)
- macrocytic anemia
- hypersegmented PMNs