Microcytic anaemia Flashcards
What is microcytic anaemia?
Anaemia where MCV is< 76 fl
Insufficient Hb production
What is the most common cause of microcytic anaemia?
Iron deficiency anaemia
List 4 other causes of microcytic anaemia
Sideroblastic anaemia
Thalassaemia
ACD
Lead poisoning
List 6 symptoms of microcytic anaemia
Fatigue Dyspnoea Anorexia Headache Bowel disturbance Features of underlying disease
List 4 causes of iron deficiency anaemia
Blood loss (e.g. GI, menstruation) Reduced absorption (e.g. small bowel disease) Increased demands (e.g. growth, pregnancy) Reduced intake (e.g. vegans)
List 5 signs that may present in microcytic anaemia
Pallor + conjunctival pallor Gum hypertrophy may occur secondary to infiltration by leukaemic cells, esp. in acute monocytic leukaemia Tachycardia Wide pulse pressure Systolic ejection murmur
List 3 additional signs which are suggestive of iron deficiency anaemia
Koilonychia
Atrophic glossitis
Angular cheilitis
Describe 4 features seen on the blood film seen in iron deficiency anaemia
Microcytic
Hypochromic
Anisocytosis
Poikilocytosis
How would IDA effect serum iron, ferritin and total iron binding capacity?
SI: low
SF: low
TIBC: high
List 4 signs of lead poisoning
Blue gumline
Peripheral nerve lesions
Encephalopathy
Convulsions
Under what conditions are full GI investigations performed in IDA?
When good diet with no coeliac antibodies + Male Women >40 Post-menopausal women Women with scanty menstrual loss
What is the management plan for IDA?
Oral iron salts
What is the management plan for sideroblastic anaemia?
Treat the cause
Pyridoxine in inherited cases
Blood transfusion + iron chelation if no response to other treatments
What is the management plan for lead poisoning?
Remove the source
Dimercaprol
D-penicillinamine
What are the complications of microcytic anaemia?
High-output cardiac failure
Complications related to the CAUSE
