Microcytic Anemia Flashcards
Anemia
- Definition
- Symptoms
- Decrease in the number of RBCs in the blood, resulting in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity
- Symptoms: fatigue, dyspnea (on exertion), weakness
***With more severe anemia, may see confusion, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, and death
Anemia
- How to categorize? (4)
Size, Color, Chronicity, Etiology
Hypochromic Microcytosis
What is a normal Hb in Males? Females?
Males = 14 to 17.5 g/dL
Females = 12 to 15 g/dL
What is a normal Hct in Males? Females?
Males = 42-50%
Females = 36-44%
What is a normal RBC count in Males? Females?
Males = 4.5 - 6.0 Million
Females = 4.0 to 5.0 Million
What is a normal MCV?
80-100 fL
What is a normal MCH?
30-34 pg
What is a normal MCHC? (i.e. Hgb/Hct x 100)
30-36%
What is a normal RDW? (Red Cell Distribution Width)
13-15%
What does a large RDW mean? small?
Large = Size is all over the map
Small = Uniform in size
Iron
- Absorption
- Where is it absorbed?
- Forms?
First and second portions of the duodenum
Forms:
- Reduced +2 (Ferrous) or +3 (Ferric) state (Ferric is useless to us)
- Heme Iron
- Gluconate, sulfate
- Role of pH, food (absorbed better in low pH/acidic)
Iron
- Dietary Sources
- Most easily absorbed?
- Plants/Vegetarians?
- Geritol?
- Heme iron is most easily absorbed
- Plants are a poor source (have Fe 3+ if they do)
- Vegetarians at risk for deficiency
Supplement with Geritol
Iron Absorption at the Enterocyte
- Describe the Process
***Heme Iron is absorbed by heme transporter then bound to Mucosal Ferritin (protects from redox reactions)
- Fe 2+ leaves the enterocyte into the extracellular space via Ferroportin 1 (inhibited by Hepcidin), is oxidized by Hephaestin (copper containing molecule) to Fe 3+ (Ferric form)
- Binds Plasma Transferrin in the blood
***Nonheme iron does the same, except is converted to Fe 2+ by Duodenal Cytochrome B first and then taken up by DMT 1
Hepcidin
- Role
- Upregulation
- Downregulation
Role: Reduces iron absorption by blocking ferroportin
Upregulated: by IL-6, high circulating ferritin
Downregulated: by low ferritin, hypoxia
Erythropoietin
- Produced where?
- Use in Anemias?
- Therapeutic Use
Produced by renal fibroblasts in response to hypoxia
Not useful in anemias that are already EPO-abundant (e.g. iron deficiency)
Should be co-administered with parenteral iron
Iron Distribution in the Body
4 parts
Circulating RBCs 2500 mg
Fe-containnig Proteins (e.g. Ferritin) 400 mg
Transferrin-bound 3-7 mg
Storage (marrow, RES) 1000 mg
Iron Loss
- Insensible loss
- Vascular loss
Insensible: sweat and endothelial sloughing
Vascular:
- External loss (traumatic)
- Sequestration (hematoma)
- Menstrual
- Internal loss (GI) –> Gastroduodenal (ulcer, espophageal varices), Colonic (tumors, diverticulitis)