Lecture 2 - Regenerative anaemia Flashcards
what is anaemia?
decrease in RBC mass
what is haemolysis?
destruction of RBC
what is haemoglobinemia?
free haemoglobin in plasma
what is bilrubinaemia?
increase in serum bilirubin
what is bilirubinuria?
bilirubin excretion in urine
what is ERYTHROPOIESIS
formation and maturation of RBC
what is the main stimulus for erythropoiesis
hypoxia
EPO
what is EPO?
erythropoietin - principle growth factor promoting proliferation and differentiation
sources of EPO?
adult = kidney foetus = liver
where does EPO act in the RBC life cycle?
at every stage
what is the life cycle of the RBC?
rubriblast –> pro-rubricyte –> rubricyte –> metarubricyte – polychromataphil –> mature RBC
what is the last stage able to mitotically divide? still with a nucleus?
rubriblast: earliest form, last stage for mitotic division
metarubricyte: last nucleated form
what are some clinical signs of anaemia?
weaknesses - lethargy and decreased oxygen
pale mucuous memo
tachycardia - compensatory response
tachypnoea - ^^
in severe cases - cold extremities (decreased blood vol)
weak peripheral pulse
heart murmur - blood viscosity changes
what are the two causes of anaemia
- RBC loss –> region response to haemorrhage or haemolysis
2. decreased RBC production –> non-regen
what are the three ways (in order from best to worst) to assess regeneration?
best = reticulocytosis - most accurate assessment
second best = blood smear - polychromasia
third best = macrocytosis and hypochromasia