Phase 2 - Haem Flashcards
3 catagories of anaemia
Microcytic (MCV <80)Normocytic (MCV 80-95)Macrocytic (MCV >95)
Causes of microcytic anaemia
TAILS- Thalassaemias- Anaemia of chronic disease- IRON DEFICIENCY(lead poisoning)- Sideroblastic - unable to put iron into haemoglobin - linked to alcohol excess, heavy metal poisoning, VIt B deficiency (Als deficiency - iron trapped in mitochondria - autosomal recessive)
Causes of normocytic anaemia
- BLOOD LOSS (acute - too rapid to adjust)
- HAEMOLYTIC (high cell turnover)
- SICKLE CELL
(- Malaria) - Hereditary spherocytosis
- spherocytes are more fragile (a membranopathy) - G6PDH (glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogensase) deficiency
- haemolysis occurs when exposed to certain triggers
- Autoimmune Haemolytic anaemia
- SICKLE CELL
- Non-haemolytic (low reticulocytes)
- aplastic anaemia
- CKD
- normal cells, just fewer present)
- Myelophthisic
- bone marrow failure due tp malignant invasion
- HAEM MALIGNANCY
Causes of macrocytic anaemia
- Megaloblastic causes (related to impaired DNA synthesis) - B12 DEFICIENCY - Folate deficiency* Non-megaloblastic (nothing wrong with DNA synthesis) - HYPOTHYROID - ALCOHOL - LIVER disease (increase membrane cholesterol of RBCs - increased surface area) - esp NAFLD - CKD - Bone marrow failure (esp MDS - increased immature RBCs) - drugs (Methotrexate, hydroxyurea)(Haemolytic anaemia - more rbcs destroyed so more young, large reticulocytes present)
Iron metabolism process
~15-20mg average daily intake but only ~1mg (or 10%) absorbed in DUODENUM- actively transported into DUODENAL EPITHELIAL CELLS by intestinal HAEM TRANSPORTER (HCP1) - highly expressed in duodenumSome stored intracellularly bound to FERRITIN (usually - more easy to mobilise) in:- reticuloendothelial cells (e.g. monocyte derived - esp in liver)- hepatocytes- skeletal muscleor in HAEMOSIDERIN:- in macrophages (esp liver, spleen, bone marrow)Circulating iron bound to TRANSFERRIN - transports to bone marrow to make erythrocytes
Iron deficiency anaemia - causes
most common cause of anaemiaBlood loss:- menorrhaegia- Hookworm (leading cause of deficiency worldwide)- GI bleedingPoor diet: - esp in children (uncommon in adults) - esp in poverty- PROLONGED BREAST FEEDING in infants (poor Fe source)Malabsorption - Coeliac disease, IBDIncreased demands (growth, pregnancy)RARE in ELDERLY - RED FLAG SIGN for COLON CANCER BLEEDING (recomen urgent endoscopy for any >60y/o w/ Fe def)
Risk factors for iron deficiency
- Less developed countries/poverty- High veg diet (iron best absorbed from animal products) - VEGAN- premature infants- Delayed introduction of mixed feeding (breastmilk contains less iron)
Signs and symptoms of anaemia
Symptoms (non-specific):- FATIGUE, headaches and faintness* Dyspnoea * Intermittent claudication (ischaemic pain in peripheries)* COLD* PALPITATIONS* Angina (if there is pre-existing coronary disease)* AnorexiaSigns (may be absent even in severe anaemia):* Pallor (esp conjunctival)* Brittle hair* Leukonychia (white patches on nails)* Tachycardia* Systolic flow murmur* Cardiac failure
presentation of iron deficiency
- anaemic symptoms- Brittle nails/hair- spoon nails (koilonychia - dip in nails)- tongue papillae atrophy (atrophic glossitis)- ulceration of corners of mouth (angular cheilitis/stomatitis)
Diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia
- Blood film * low blood count * MICROCYTIC and HYPOCHROMATIC * pokilocytosis (variation in shape); anisocytosis (variation in size) - TARGET CELLS (bulls eye pattern - non specific) - HOWELL JOLLY BODIES (nucleated RBCs - non-specific)- LOW FERRITIN (diagnostic) * tho it is an acute phase protein so will be normal/high in inflammation even if anaemic- IRON STUDY: * low serum iron (not very useful) * LOW TRANSFERRIN SATURATION <19% (more transferrin made to bind as much iron as possible so higher quantity of transferrin which is not saturated) * HIGH TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY (lots of transferrin so highly bound)(high serum soluble transferrin receptors)- LOW RETICULOCYTE countFurther examinations if blood loss (e.g. GI tract exam)
Management of iron deficiency
Treat underlying causeORAL IRON - FERROUS SULPHATE- Side effects: * nausea, abdo discomfort, diarrhoea/constipation, black stools (from increased free iron)- Vit C improves absorption- Alt: FERROUS GLUCONATEIf severe:- IV/IM iron * rare anaphylaxis; potential sub epidermal stainingHb should increase by 20 every month - continue for 3 months after Hb/MCV normal to replenish stores
Define thalassaemia
reduced production of a specific Hb chain type - IMBALANCE OF Hb SYNTHESIS- causes INEFFECTIVE ERYTHROPOIESIS (death of precursors in bone marrow from precipitation of globin chain imbalance)- precipitation in mature RBCs -> HAEMOLYSISBeta Thalassaemia - reduced B chainAlpha thalassaemia - reduced A chain
Beta thalassaemia - pathophysiology
low B chain synthesis = EXCESS A CHAINS- combine with delta + gamma chains- increased HbA2/HbFUsually caused by point mutations (>200 varieties)-> defects in transcription, RNA splicing/modification, translation -> UNSTABLE B-GLOBIN - can’t be utilisedIf heterozygous - ASYMPTOMATIC microcytosis; maybe MILD anaemia
3 variations in b-thalassaemia presentation
B-THALASSAEMIA MINOR (aka carrier/trait)B-THALASSAEMIA INTERMEDIA (symptomatic but not requiring regular transfusions)B-THALASSAEMIA MAJOR (severe homozygous - requires lifelong transfusions)
How do you differentiate between B-thalassaemia minor and iron deficiency
Both have hypochromic, microcytic RBCsBUT serum ferritin/iron stores normalHb electrophoresis -> raised HbA2 and often raised HbF
Presentation of B-thalassemia intermedia
- SPLENOMEGALY (from haemolysis)- Bone deformaties- Recurrent leg ulcers- Gallstones- Infection
Presentation of B-thalassaemia major
Presents in children in 1ST YEAR OF LIFE- failure to thrive - recurrent bacterial INFECTION- severe ANAEMIA from 3-6 months (when switch to HbA)- EXTRAMEDULLARY HAEMATOPOIESIS - ineffective RBC OUTSIDE MARROW -> HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY (from haemolysis) - bone marrow expansion (distictive appearance)Clinically:- hair on end skull x-ray- bone abnormalities- Low MCV - MICROCYTIC- Blood film: large and small irregular hypochromic RBCs- NORMAL SERUM FERRITIN
Diagnosis of homozygous b-thalassaemia
BLOOD COUNT and FILM- HYPOCHROMIC, MICROCYTIC anaemia- RAISED RETICULOCYTES- NUCLEATED RBC in PERIPHERALSHaemoglobin electrophoresis - increased HbF; absent/less HbA
Treatment of beta-thalassaemia
In more severe:- regular (2-4 weeks) LIFE-LONG transfusions to keep Hb above 90g/L AND SUPPRESS ineffective EXTRAMEDULLARY HAEMATOPOIESIS -> to allow normal growth- Splenectomy if hypersplenism persists -> INCREASING TRANSFUSION DEMANDS - do after childhood -> reduce infection risk- Bone marrow transplant- Long term FOLIC ACID
Complications of blood transfusion
INCREASED IRON LOADING -> overload- Mainly deposit in liver/spleen -> liver fibrosis/cirrhosis- also in endocrine glands + HEART -> * Diabetes * Hypothyroidism * Hypocalcaemia * Premature death
Treatments for the complications of blood transfusions
IRON-CHELATING agents - STOP iron OVERLOAD- oral DEFERIPRONE - sub-cutan DESFERRIOXAMINE - side effects: cataracts, deafnessASCORBIC ACID (large dose) -> increases urinary exc of iron
Pathophysiology of Aplha-thalassaemia
- 2 copies of gene for a-goblin on both chromosomes 16 normally - in a-thalassaemia: 1 (most common) or both of the genes are deleted on one or both chromosomes
Clinical presentation of 4 alpha-globin gene deletion
INCOMPATIBLE WITH LIFE - stillborn/die shortly after birth- HYDROPS FETALIS * Pale * Oedematous * hepatosplenomegaly(Only Hb Barts present - 4 gamma chains - can’t carry O2)
Presentation of 3 gene alpha-globin deletion
HbH disease (common in parts of asia) - severe alpha reductionHbH = 4 beta chainsModerate ANAEMIA and SPLENOMEGALYUsually not transfusion dependant