Microcytic and Macrocytic anaemia Flashcards
What is the MCH in a blood test?
Average haemoglobin content of RBC
What is the MCHC in a blood test?
Calculated measure of haemoglobin concentration in given red blood cells.
What is the RDW in a blood test?
The rage of deviation around RBC size.
What does Microcytic mean?
Small RBC, reduced MCV
What conditions are associated with a microcytic appearance?
- Iron deficiency (heme deficiency)
- Thalassamia (globin deficiency)
- Anaemia of chronic disease
What conditions are associated with normocytic appearance?
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Aplasia
- Chronic renal failure
What conditions are associated with microcytic appearance?
- B12 deficiency and folate deficiency
- Myelodysplasia
- Reticulocytosis
- Drug induced
- Liver disease
- Myxoedema
What is iron important for?
Iron is an essential component of cytochromes, oxygen-binding molecules (i.e., haemoglobin and myoglobin), and many enzymes.
Where is dietary iron absorbed?
Iron is absorbed from duodenum via enterocytes into plasma and binds to transferrin and then transported to bone marrow to make red blood cells.
How does Fe3+ circulate in the plasma?
Bound to plasma transferrin and accumulate within cells in the form or ferritin
Which cells in the body act as storage deposits of iron?
Hepatocytes and reticuloendothelial macrophages
What is the role of reticuloendothelial macrophages?
They ingest senescent red cells, catabolise haemoglobin to scavenge iron, and load the iron onto transferrin for reuse.
How much iron do men and non-menstruating women lose a day?
1mg of iron per day
What are the storage and transport proteins?
Storage and transport proteins, ferrin and haemosiderin. Found in cells of liver, spleen and bone marrow
What happens to excess iron?
Excess absorption of iron is stored as ferritin.