normocytic anemias Flashcards
normocytic anemia
- 80-100 MCV
- issue with destruction, production, kidneys, or malignancy
- peripheral smear is key
causes of normocytic anemias
- heomlytic anemia
- hereditary spherocytosis
- autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- cold agglutin disease
- paroxysmal nocturnal hemaglobinuria
- G6PD def
- sickle cell disease
why does anemia occur with continued hemolysis
- extremely short RBC survival
- ability of bone marrow to compensate is impaired
intrinsic/ inherited causes of hemolytic anemia
- genes that control how we make RBCs are abnormal
- membrane defects
- enzyme deficiency/ oxidation vulnerability
- hemoglobinopathies
acquired/ extrinsic causes of hemolytic anemia
- something else destroying the cells
- immune: autoimmune, drug toxicity
- microangiopathic
- infection
- hypersplenism
- burn
si/sx of hemolytic anemia
- fatigue, weakness, pallor
- easy bruising, petechiae, purpura
- yellow discoloration of eyes and skin
- abd pain
- dark urine
- splenomegaly
lab findings for hemolytic anemia
- bilirubin accumuation d/t heme breakdown
- increased retic count
- decreased haptoglobin
- pos urine hemosiderin
- increased serum LDH
- increased methemalbuminemia and hemoglobinemia
hereditary spherocytosis
- abnormal spectrin and ankyrin (abnormal cell membrane)
- causes small, hyperchromic, inflexible cells
- get trapped in spleen and hemolyzed
key findings for hereditary spherocytosis
- family hx
- splenomegaly
- spherocytosis and reticulocytes on smear
- may or may not be anemic
diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis
- spherocytosis
- familial hemolytic anemia
- abnormal osmotic fragility
- coombs negative
treatment of hereditary spherocytosis
- supportive care
- transfusions as needed
- folic acid cupplementation
- consider splenectomy if sx are severe
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
- rare hematopoietic stem cell disorder
- abnormal sensitivity of RBC membranes to lysis by complement
- lack of CD55 and CD59 proteins
what is the most common cause of death in PNH
- thrombosis
si/sx of PNH
- episodic hemoglobinuria- reddish brown urine usu first thing in AM
- fatigue, weakness
- esophageal spasms
- ED
- abd pain
- dyspnea
- thrombosis**
- pulm HTN
- end organ damage, CKD
common sites of thrombosis in PNH
- mesenteric v
- hepatic v
- CNS veins
- skin vessels- formation of painful nodules
lab findings in PNH
- CBC variable
- retic variable
- peripheral smear is non-diagnostic
- direct coombs neg
- urine hemosiderine elevated
- serum LDH elevated
- iron def anemia
- MUST get flow cytometry*
- bone marrow bx
essentials of PNH dx
- episodic hemoglobinuria
- thrombosis common
- suspect in confusing case of hemolytic anemia or pancytopenia
- flow cytometry shows def of CD55 and CD59
treatment of mild PNH
- no intervention required
treatment of severe PNH
- transfusion needed
- eculizumab therapy- improved QOL, reduced hemolysis
- allogenic SCT
- treat iron def anemia if indicated
G6PD deficiency
- def in G6PH enzyme
- x linked recessive
- RBCs cant handle oxidative stress -> episodic hemolysis
- hemoglobin denatures under these conditions
- extravasc hemolysis in spleen
- different variants exist in def populations
beneficial part of G6PD
- protection from malaria
- less CAD
- possibly fewer cancers
- greater longevity
si/sx of G6PD def
- usu healthy
- no splenomegaly
- suspect when hemolytic anemia
- worse with fava beans
lab findings with G6PD def
- hemolytic labs appear normal between episodes
- hgb < 8
- increased retic count
- increased serum indirect bili
- peripheral smear shows bite cells, blisters
- heinz bodies
- decreased G6PD enzyme assay 6-8 weeks after hemolysis
essentials of G6PD dx
- x linked recessive disorder
- common in AA men
- episodic hemolysis in response to oxidant drugs or infections
- bite cells and blister cells on periph smear
- reduced level of G6PD btwn hemolytic episodes