Introduction to Erythron Flashcards
What is the difference between the shape of RBC in most mammals compared to birds, reptiles and camelids?
Mammals - biconcave, anucleated, central pallor
Birds/reptiles - nucleated
Camelids- Elliptical
What are the RBC production sites in
a) Foetus
b) Adult
a) Foetus - Liver/spleen
b) Adult - bone marrow (L/S maintain erythropoietic capacity) - long bones
What is the erythrocyte lifespan of
a) Dog
b) Cat
c) horse/cattle
a) 100 d
b) 70 d
c) 150 d
What are the routes of RBC removal?
Major route - senescent RC by phagocytic macrophages
Minor route - intravascular haemolysis
Components of a CBC
RBC concentration Total hemoglobin (HGB) hematocrit (HCT) and spun PCV Mean cell volume (MCV) Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) Red cell distribution width (RDW Platelet numbers Total WBC Breakdown of numbers of each type of WBC
What is anaemia and how can you find evidence of it in the CBC?
Reduction of Red cell mass
- Haemoglobin conc
- PCV
- Haematocrit
- Red blood cell conc
Polychromasia
Red blood cells that vary in color (some may be normal, some pale, etc)
Anisocytosis
the presence of red blood cells of unequal size
What are the classifications of anaemia?
- Mild, moderate, severe
- Regen or non-regen
- Normocytic, microcytic, macrocytic
- Normochromic, hypochromic (hyperchromic)
Hypochromasia
Erythrocytes that do not take up as much stain as usual (caused by decreased hemoglobin?)
Macrocytosis
the presence of macrocytes (large RBCs) in the blood
Normocytic
a) what are the abnormal terms?
Erythrocytes of unremarkable size
seen in: mild non-regen anaemia, acute haemorrhage
a) Microcytic and macrocytic
Why does microcytic erythrocytes occur?
Examples
Red cell haemoglobin conc determines when division stops - iron deficiency allows one more division = SMALLER RC
eg. PSS, Fe deficiency, hepatic failure
Name a normal breed that you can see microcytic red blood cells
Akitas
What is macrocytic erythrocytes and when would you see them?
In regeneration
- polychromatophils - larger than mature RBCs
What breed would you see macrocytic red blood cells?
Poodles
What is regenerative anaemia in response to?
Reduction in oxygenation
- Kidneys respond to low O2 by releasing erythropoietin
- stimulates bone marrow to increase red cell production
- takes 2-3 days and young red cells increase in circulation
What are young red blood cells called?
Reticulocytes
Polychromatophils and reticulocytes
SAME CELLS - have ribosomal RNA
What stain would you use to see reticulocytes?
Diff-Quik or Giemsa stained smear
ribosomal RNA - larger bluer cells (polychromatophils)
New methylene blue - RNA precipitates forming aggregates
What disease in cats can you see Macrocytosis?
FeLV
What is the normal PCV for a dog and a cat?
Dog: 45%
Cat: 35%
What is the normal amount of reticulocytes in a dog and a cat?
Dog - 1% corrected
Cat - 0.4%
What happens in regenerative anaemia to the reticulocyte %
Dog >1% corrected
Cat >0.4%
What are the 2 reasons for increased loss in Regenerative anaemia?
Haemolysis Haemorrhage (internal and external)
What are some examples of haemorrhage?
External: Melena Urinary tract epistaxis Post trauma/surgery
Internal: Bleeding tumours Trauma Into tissue (bleeding diathesis - tendency) surgery
What are some examples of haemolysis?
- intravascular or extravascular
- immune mediated - test with Coombs test = anti-RBC antibody
- damaged/abnormal RBC