RBC 1 Flashcards
Size and color: generally disorders of hemoglobin synthesis, often iron deficiency
Microcytic normochromic
Size: generally from impaired maturation of red cell precursors in BM. B12 and folate deficiency. pernicious anemia
Macrocytic
size and color: anemia of chronic disease
normocytic normochromic
normocytic value
80-100
What measurements are useful for color of RBCs
- mean cell hemoglobin
- mean cell hemoglobin concentration
what is normal red cell distribution width
12-15
Older male above 60 with iron deficiency anemia. what is the workup?
if it’s a female?
colon cancer
-may be perimenopausal or gynecological bleeding but could also be colon cancer
is the HCT clinically useful in evaluating acute blood loss?
No, you are losing both red cells and plasma
How quickly are reticulocytes produced
5 days
What are the features of hemolytic anemias?
- shortened red cell life span below the typical 120 days
- Elevated erythropoietin levels and a compensatory increase in erythropoiesis
- Hemoglobin degradation products tend to accumulate during red cell hemolysis
Predominant features of extravascular hemolytic anemia
- anemia
- SPLENOMEGALY
- and jaundice
features of intravascular hemolytic anemia?
- anemia
- hemoglobinemia
- hemoglobinuria
- hemosidinuria
- Jaundice
- NO SPLENOMEGALY
Role of haptoglobin in hemolytic anemia
it binds degradation product so it goes down
in all types of uncomplicated hemolytic anemias, the excess serum bilirubin is _____
unconjugated
an inherited disorder caused by intrinsic defects in the red cell membrane skeleton that render red cells spheroid, less deformable, and vulnerable to splenic sequestration and destruction
Hereditary spherocytosis (HS)
what is the inheritance pattern of 75% of hereditary spherocytosis
autosomal dominant
in 2/3 of HS, the red cells are abnormally sensitive to what?
osmotic lysis when incubated in hypotonic salt solutions which causes the influx of water into sperocytes with little margin for expansion
what is the Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in HS
increased due to dehydration caused by loss of K+ and water
What are the characteristic clinical features of HS?
- anemia
- splenomegaly
- Jaundice
The generally stable course of HS is sometimes puncuated by aplastic crises, usually triggered by what?
an acute parvovirus infection
describe the hemolytic crisis that can occur in HS?
produced by intercurrent events leading to increased splenic destruction of red cells (infectious mononucleosis)
What stones are found in many HS pts?
gallstones
What treats the anemia of HS?
splenectomy but brings with it an increased risk of sepsis
The episodic hemolysis that is characteristic of G6PD deficiency is caused by exposures that generate oxidant stress . . what are most common causes?
- infections
- Antimalarial drugs (like quinidine)
- Tonic water from gin and tonics