Microcytic Anaemia

Question 1

What is haematocrit?

Answer 1

Ratio of whole blood that is red cells if sample was allowed to settle

Question 2

What is reticulocytosis?

Answer 2

Increased red cell production

Question 3

What are reticulocytes?

Answer 3

Red cells that have just left Bone marrow
Larger than average red cells
Stain deeper colour

Question 4

What are the 2 main classifications of anaemia?

Answer 4

Decreased production - low retic count

Increased loss or destruction - high retic count

Question 5

Causes of decreased production?

Answer 5

Hypoproliferative

Maturation abnormality

Question 6

Causes of increased Loss or destruction?

Answer 6

Bleeding

Haemolysis

Question 7

Microcytic cells are larger or smaller?

Answer 7

Smaller

Question 8

Causes of microcytic anaemia?

Answer 8

Iron deficiency 
anaemia of chronic disease 
Lead poisoning 
Pyridoxine responsive anaemias
Congenital sideroblastic anaemia 
Thalassaemia

Question 9

Iron exists in what 2 states?

Answer 9

Fe2+

Fe3+

Question 10

Where is iron stored?

Answer 10

In ferritin - mainly in liver and some in macrophages

Question 11

How is iron transported?

Answer 11

Bound to transferrin

Question 12

How to test status of transported iron?

Answer 12

Serum iron
Transferrin
Transferrin saturation

Question 13

How to assess status of storage iron?

Answer 13

Serum ferritin

Question 14

% saturation of Transferrin is decreased in…?

Answer 14

Iron deficiency

Anaemia of chronic disease

Question 15

% saturation of transferrin is increased in…?

Answer 15

Genetic haemachromatosis

Question 16

What does low ferritin indicate?

Answer 16

Iron deficiency

Question 17

What are the causes of iron deficiency?

Answer 17

Dietary - not sufficient intake
Blood loss - menorrhagia, GI, haematuria
Malabsorption

Question 18

Consequences of negative iron balance?

Answer 18

Exhaustion of iron stores
Iron deficient erythopoiesis
Microcytic anaemia
Epithelial changes - skin, koilonychia