Microcytic, Hypochromic Anemias Flashcards
Anemia Definition
What is it correlated with?
deficiency of oxygen delivery to the tissues / healthy red blood cells
Low RBC Count
Low hematocrit
Low Hemoglobin
Anemia is classified by:
Physiology
- symptoms, bone marrow response
Morphology
- visual interpretation of peripheral smear
- RBC indices: MCV, MCHC, MCH
Microcytic, hypochromic anemias definition
group of red cell disorders that involve a defect in hemoglobin synthesis and can produce RBCs that are:
Microcytic: < 6 um
(often MCV <80fL
Hypochromic = CAP >3 um
(often MCHC <32%)
Deficiency of iron
IDA - iron deficiency anemia
- Majority
- Most common anemia
Abnormal utilization of iron
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Sideroblastic Anemia
Abnormal heme synthesis
Poryphyrias
Abnormal globin chain synthesis
Thalassemia
Iron (Fe)
Iron is essential for life
- makes hemoglobin
- essential mineral our body needs
Iron can be classified in two categories
Heme iron
Non heme iron
Heme iron
complexed into a porphyrin ring to form heme ring of hemoglobin
non-heme iron
- Any iron outside of hemoglobin
- **Transfer and storage compounds **
- RBC inclusions
Examples of non-heme iron; transfer and storage compounds
Transferrin
Ferritin
Hemosiderin
Transferrin
CARRIER protein
- carrier protein for serum iron
- composed of beta globulin
- made in the liver
Ferritin
STORAGE
- Water soluble
- Storage pools of bone marrow and liver
- Easily mobilized
- Serum Ferritin - proportional to iron stores in liver and BM
Hemosiderin (harder to access)
STORAGE
- Water insoluble
- lysosomal membranes of macrophages (where they are stored)
- Precipitated aggregates of ferritin
- Long term-storage (last resort)
Ferritin vs Hemosiderin
Hemosiderin has an extra phosphate
Non heme iron in RBC
inclusions terminology
- Wright stained - pappenheimer bodies
- Prussian blue (iron stain) - siderotic granules
Cell terminology
- nulceated RBC - Sideroblasts
- Non-nucleated RBC - siderocytes
wright stained RBC
pappenheimer bodies
Prussian blue (iron stain)
Siderotic granules