Introduction to Anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of Anaemia?

A

Low total red cell mass

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2
Q

How can anaemia be measured?

A

Haemoglobin

Haematocrit

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3
Q

How is Hb measured? (Not sure if important?)

A

Burst the red cells so Hb in solution
Stabilise Hb molecules
Measure optical density at 540nm
OD is proportional to concentration

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4
Q

How is Haematocrit measured?

A

Ratio of whole blood that is red cells if sample is left to settle?

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5
Q

When are Hb and Hct not sufficient?

A

Rapid bleed of 50% of blood volume

Plasma expansion

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6
Q

What is the natural body response to anaemia?

A

Increased red cell (reticulocyte) production

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7
Q

What are reticulocytes?

A

Red cells that have just left the marrow

Bigger than erythrocytes

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8
Q

What other blood tests can be done for anaemia?

A

FBC
Blood film
Reticulocyte count

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9
Q

How can someone become anaemic?

A
Decreased production
- Hypoproliferative
- Maturation abnormality
Increased loss or destruction
- Bleeding
-Haemolysis
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10
Q

What are the 2 practical types of anaemia based on MCV?

A

Macrocytic (Increased MCV)

MIcrocytic (Decreased MCV)

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11
Q

What is macrocytic anaemia suggestive of?

A

Maturation problem

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12
Q

What is microcytic anaemia suggestive of?

A

Haemoglobin problem

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13
Q

What is haemoglobin made from?

A

Globins
Haem
-Iron (Fe2+)
Porphyrin ring

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14
Q

What happens when there is a shortage of HB?

A

Microcytic and hypochromatic (pale) cells

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15
Q

What can cause a Hb shortage?

A
Haem deficiency
- Iron deficiency
-Chronic disease
Problems with porphyrin synthesis
- Lead poisoning
Globin deficiency
-Thalassaemia
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16
Q

What are the 2 types of iron ions?

A

Fe2+

Fe3+

17
Q

Which iron ion can carry O2?

A

Fe2+

18
Q

What is iron essential for?

A

O2 transport
Electron transport
-ATP production

19
Q

What is the iron in circulation bound to?

A

Transferrin (Cause its transferrin’ the iron about)

20
Q

How is iron tranferred into bone marrow?

A

By macophages

21
Q

Where is iron stored and how?

A

In the liver as ferritin

22
Q

How can functional iron be measured?

A

HB

23
Q

How can transported iron be measured?

A

Serum iron

Transferrin

24
Q

How can iron stores be measured?

A

Serum ferritin

25
Q

How many iron molecules can bind to transferrin?

A

2

26
Q

What happens to transferrin saturation in iron deficiency?

A

Decreases

27
Q

What happens to transferrin saturation in anaemia of chronic disease?

A

Decreases

28
Q

What happens to transferrin saturation in haemochromatosis?

A

Increases

29
Q

What is ferritin?

A

large intracellular protein

30
Q

When is ferritin decreased?

A

Iron deficiency

31
Q

What are causes of iron deficiency?

A

Vegetarian diet
Blood loss
Malabsorption (coeliac disease)

32
Q

What are some causes of chronic blood loss?

A
Menorrhagia
GI
-tumours
-ulcers
-NSAIDs
Haematuria
33
Q

What is classed as mennorhagia and how much iron is lost?

A

> 60ml/month

>30mg iron/month

34
Q

What does iron deficiency result in?

A
Exhaustion of iron stores
Iron deficient erythropoiesis
Decreased Red cell volume
Microcytic anaemia
Epithelial changes
35
Q

How is iron absorption increased?

A

Iron supplements