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Haematology > Microcytic Anaemia > Flashcards

Microcytic Anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

What is anaemia?

A

Reduced red cell mass

+/- reduced haemoglobin concentration

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2
Q

What are the consequences of anaemia?

A

Reduced oxygen transport

Tissue hypoxia

Organ dysfunction

Compensatory changes

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3
Q

What compensatory changes take place in anaemia?

A

Increased tissue perfusion
Increased O2 transfer to tissue
Increased red cell production

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4
Q

What is haemopoiesis?

A

The formation of blood cells

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5
Q

What are reticulocytes?

A

Young red blood cells recently released from the bone marrow

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6
Q

Reticulocytes are smaller than RBCs. True or false?

A

False

Reticulocytes are larger

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7
Q

Where are RBCs produced?

A

Bone marrow

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8
Q

Where are RBCs removed from the body?

A

Spleen
Liver
Bone marrow
Blood loss

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9
Q

What 3 categories of anaemia are there?

A

Microcytic (RBCs smaller than normal)

Normocytic

Macrocytic (RBCs larger than normal)

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10
Q

What are some causes of microcytic anaemia?

A

Iron deficiency
Chronic disease
Thalassaemia

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11
Q

What is iron deficiency anaemia?

A

A type of microcytic anaemia caused by there being not enough iron in the bloodstream

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12
Q

What does microcytic anaemia look like on a blood film?

A

Smaller than usual

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13
Q

What is the purpose of iron in the blood stream?

A

It is necessary for the formation of haem

Which forms part of haemoglobin, which is essential for carrying oxygen around the body in the bloodstream

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14
Q

What causes iron deficiency?

A

Blood loss: from uterus or GI tract

Increased demands, such as growth, pregnancy

Decreased absorption from food in the small intestine

Poor intake

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15
Q

Investigations of iron deficiency anaemia?

A

Bloods:

  • low serum iron
  • low serum ferritin

Blood film:
- microcytic and hypochromic

Try to find underlying cause: i.e. do a faecal occult test if you suspect colon cancer

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16
Q

What does -chromic mean?

A

Refers to the haemoglobin content of the RBCs

17
Q

What does -cytic mean?

A

Refers to the size of the RBCs

18
Q

How is iron transported around the body?

A

By transferrin

19
Q

Management of iron deficiency anaemia?

A

Find + treat the underlying cause

Iron supplements

  • oral
  • parenteral injection (rarely)
20
Q

In what form is iron given orally?

A

Ferrous sulphate

Ferrous gluconate

21
Q

What would iron deficiency anaemia look like on a blood film?

A

Microcytic

Hypochromic

22
Q

Which chronic diseases can cause microcytic anaemia?

A

Crohn’s
RA
CKD
Chronic infections: TB

23
Q

What type of anaemias do chronic diseases cause?

A

Microcytic or normocytic

Normochromic

24
Q

Is anaemia caused by chronic disease hyper, hypo or normochromic?

A

Normochromic

25
Q

What is ferritin?

A

A ubiquitous, intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled manner

26
Q

Investigations of chronic disease anaemia?

A

Bloods:

  • low serum iron
  • low iron binding capacity
  • increased/normal ferritin

Blood film:

  • normochromic
  • normocytic or microcytic
27
Q

Management of chronic disease anaemia?

A

Treat the disease

Erythropoietin

28
Q

What is thalassaemia?

A

In normal Hb, there is equal production of alpha and beta chains

In thalassaemia, there is reduced rate of production of one or more of the globin chains

This creates abnormal Hb, which precipitates within red cells

Resulting in damage to cells, death of RBCs, haemolysis

29
Q

What’s the difference between alpha and beta thalassaemia?

A

Alpha: reduced alpha chain syntheses

Beta: reduced beta chain synthesis

30
Q

What would thalassaemia look like on a blood film?

A

Microcytic

Hypochromic

31
Q

What causes thalassaemia?

A

Genetic defects

It is hereditary: autosomal recessive

32
Q

There are 3 stages of severity of B-thalassaemia, describe them?

A

Minor: trait, they are carriers of genes, minor manageable anaemia

Intermedia: moderate anaemia, splenomegaly, leg ulcers, bone deformities

Major: presents within 1st year of life, very severe, skull and bone abnormalities

33
Q

What are the symptoms of all anaemias?

A 
Fatigue
Faintness
Breathlessness
Headaches
Palpitations
Pallor
Tachycardia
Heart failure
34
Q

Investigations of thalassaemia?

A

Blood film:

  • microcytic
  • hypochromic

Haemoglobin electrophoresis
which will show up levels of haemoglobin A, B

35
Q

Management of thalassaemia?

A

Blood transfusion to keep haemoglobin levels high enough

36
Q

Why do chronic diseases cause anaemia?

A

We don’t really know, but it is though to involve a lack of erythropoietin or a resistance developing to it?

Haematology (9 decks)

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