Iron Deficiency Anaemia Flashcards
What is the major cause of a microcytic, hypochromic anaemia, in which the two red cell indices, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), are reduced and the blood film shows small (microcytic) and pale (hypochromic) red cells?
Iron deficiency
What is the major differential diagnosis of a microcytic, hypochromic anaemia?
Thalassaemia and Anaemia of Chronic Disease.
The transport of iron is largely dependent on which three proteins?
- Transferrin
- Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1)
- Ferritin
Fill in the blanks. “Transferrin molecules can each contain up to ________ of iron.”
Two (2)
Where are red blood cells broken down?
In the macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system.
Where is iron incorporated into haemoglobin?
Erythroblasts in the bone marrow.
Fill in the blanks. “Some iron is stored in the macrophages as ___________ and _______.”
Ferritin and Haemosiderin
True or False? Hemosiderin is a water soluble protein- iron complex.
FALSE!! It’s Ferritin .
What is the name given to the outer protein shell for Ferritin?
Apoferritin
What is the make- up for Ferritin?
22 subunits and an iron–phosphate–hydroxide core.
True or False? Ferritin is visible by light microscopy.
FALSE!! It is NOT visible by light microscopy.
Fill in the blanks. “ ___________ an insoluble protein–iron complex of varying composition containing approximately 37% iron by weight.”
Hemosiderin
True or False? “Iron in the form of Ferritin and Hemosiderin is in the Ferrous form.”
FALSE!! It is in the Ferric form.
True or False? Hemosiderin is visible in macrophages and other cells by light microscopy after staining by Perls’ (Prussian blue) reaction).
TRUE!!
Where is Hemosiderin derived from?
It is derived from Partial lysosomal digestion of ferritin molecules .
What is the name of the enzyme that catalyses oxidation of the iron to the ferric form for binding to plasma transferrin?
Caeruloplasmin ( copper- containing enzyme)
What is the average amount of iron found in Haemolglobin in the MALE adult?
2.4 grams / 65 %
What is the average amount of iron found in Ferritin and Haemosiderin in the MALE adult?
1.0 (0.3–1.5)/ 30 %
What is the average amount of iron found in myoglobin in the MALE adult?
0.15 grams/ 3.5 %
What is the average amount of iron found in Haemoglobin in the FEMALE Adult?
1.7 grams/ 65%
What is the average amount of iron found in Ferritin and Haemosiderin in the FEMALE adult?
0.3 (0–1.0) / 30 %
What is the average amount of iron found in myoglobin in the FEMALE adult?
0.12 grams / 3.5 %
What amount is the daily absorption of iron?
1 mg
What amount is the daily loss of iron?
1mg
Which organ of the GI system is iron absorbed?
In the duodenum
Fill in the blanks. “ Iron overload causes a RISE in _________.”
Tissue Ferritin