Intro to anaemia and microcytic

Question 1

anaemia

Answer 1

reduced total red cell mass

Question 2

steady state anaemia

Answer 2

Adult males Hb <130g/L Hct <0.38
Adult females Hb <120g/L Hct <0.37

Question 3

how to measure hb concentration

Answer 3

spectrophotometric method

Question 4

haematocrit

Answer 4

percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume

Question 5

normal response to anaemia

Answer 5

to make more red cells- reticulocytosis

Question 6

reticulocyte

Answer 6

immature blood cell

have just left the bone marrow

larger than average red cells

stain purple/ red

Question 7

classification of anaemia

Answer 7

decreased production of rbcs

increased destruction

maturati9on defect

Question 8

macrocytic v microcytic

Answer 8

MCV low in micro

MCV high in macro

Question 9

where is haemoglobin synthesised

Answer 9

cytoplasm

Question 10

what results in a microcytic anaemia

Answer 10

if iron, porphyrin ring or globins are lacking

Question 11

what is a signal to stop dividing

Answer 11

hb acumulation

Question 12

causes of mucrocytic anaemia

Answer 12

haem def; lack of iron for erythropoiess , iron def
globin def
problems with prophyrin synthesis

Question 13

what is circulating iron bound to

Answer 13

transferrin

Question 14

available tests to asses iron status

Answer 14

Functional iron
Haemoglobin
Transported iron
Serum iron
Transferrin
Transferrin saturation
Storage iron
Serum ferritin

Question 15

what is transferrin and its role

Answer 15

a protein with two binding sites for iron

transports iron from donor tissues to tissues expressing transferrin receptors

Question 16

transferrin levels assoc

Answer 16

reduced in iron def

reduced in anaemia of chronic disease

increased in genetic haemachromatosis

Question 17

what does low ferritin mean

Answer 17

iron def

Question 18

role of ferritin

Answer 18

stores iron and releases it when needed

Question 19

how can iron def be confirmed

Answer 19

combination of anaemia - decraesed functionla iron and reduced storage iron - low serum ferritin

Question 20

causes of iron def

Answer 20

insufficient dietary iron

losing iron- bleeding

malabsorption

coeliac disease

Question 21

causes of chronic blood loss

Answer 21

menorrhagia
gi - tumours, ulcers , nsaids
haematuria

Question 22

investigatons

Answer 22

• Bloods - FBC
  
  • Hb concentraton, MCV, haematocrit, mean cell haemoglobin, mean cell haemaglobin concentration
• Blood film - look at cellular morphology
• Reticulocyte count - assess marrow response

Question 23

clinical presentation ofanaemia

Answer 23

non-specific and include breathlessness, fatigue, headaches, palpitations and faintness

Signs

• Pallor
• Tachycardia
• Systolic flow murmur
• Cardiac failure