RBC Disorder Associations Flashcards
MICROCYTIC anemia is ALWAYS due to DECREASED HGB production. What are the 4 types of MICROCYTIC anemia? What is deficient in each of these?
- Fe-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA - Fe
- ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASE - Fe
- SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA - Protoporphyrin
- THALASSEMIA - Globin
What is the most common type of anemia?
Fe-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
What is the most common cause of middle-aged MALE Fe-deficiency anemia?
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE
What are the two hookworm species that can cause Fe-deficiency anemia in the elderly population of developing countries?
ANCYLOSTOMA + NECATOR
What is the most common cause of Fe-deficiency anemia in the elderly population of the western world?
COLON POLYPS/CARCINOMA
In the EARLY Stage of Fe-Deficiency anemia, is the anemia MICROCYTIC, NORMOCYTIC, or MACROCYTIC?
NORMOCYTIC ANEMIA
Bone marrow makes the sacrifice in NUMBER (DECREASED NUMBER) for normal-sized RBCs
KOILONYCHIA
Spoon-shaped nails
Which anemia presents with koilychia + pica?
Fe-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
Which anemia presents with HIGH FREE ERYTHROCYYTE PROTOPORPHYRIN (FEP)?
Fe-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASE
Both resulting in LOW Fe
What is the most commonly associated syndrome with Fe Deficiency Anemia?
PLUMMER VINSON SYNDROME
ANEMIA + ESOPHAGEAL WEBS (Resulting in dysphagia) + ATROPHIC GLOSSITIS (resulting in beefy-red tongue)
PLUMMER VINSON DYNROME
What is the most common type of anemia in HOSPITALIZED pts?
Anemia of CHRONIC DISEASE (chronic inflammation OR cancer)
What is the one main difference of lab values between Fe-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA and ANEMIA of CHRONIC DISEASE?
FE-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: Low serum FER/High TIBC - Storage Fe will be used since there is low Fe in the blood
ANEMIA OF CHRONIC DISEASE: High serum FER/Low TIBC - Chronic disease -> Release of Hepcidin (acute phase reactant) -> Sequesters Fe in storage sites
What is the first step of protorpophyrin synthesis? What is the required co-factor? Why is this step important kinetically?
SuccinylCoA -> ALA (aminolevulinic acid)
Enz: ALA Synthase
Co-factor: VitB6
Rate-limiting step
Where does the last step of protoporphyrin (PP) synthesis occur? Which enzyme combines PP with Fe to form heme?
Mitochondria
FERROCHELATASE
In SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA, where does the Fe accumulate? What histological cell in the bone marrow confirms this finding of sideroblastic anemia?
MITOCHONDRIA
Ringed sideroblasts - Fe accumulation in mitochondria** surrounding nucleus of erythroblasts in a ring pattern
SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA can be a side effect of taking which drug?
ISONIAZID Treatment for TB - Pts taking INH can become VitB6 deficient -> Important co-factor for the ALAS -> Protoporphyrin deficient -> SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA
Which disease has the same laboratory findings as sideroblastic anemia? How would you characterize the state for both of these conditions?
HEMACHROMATOSIS
Both FE-OVERLOADED STATE: High FER/Low TIBC + High serum Fe/High % saturation
What is the most common CONGENITAL cause of SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA?
ALAS Deficiency - Rate limiting step enzyme
Which 3 poisonings can result in ACQUIRED SIDEROBLASTIC ANEMIA?
ALCOHOL - Mitochondrial damage
LEAD - Denatures ALAD, FERROCHELATASE
ISONIAZID (INH) - Reduces VitB6 (co-factor of ALAS)
What explains the high genetic frequency and thus prevalence of THALASSEMIA?
Inherited mutation offers protection against PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM MALARIA
What is the most common inherited mutation of ALPHA THALASSEMIA? What is the most common inherited mutation of BETA THALASSEMIA? What chromosomes do each of these alleles lie?
ALPHA - GENE DELETION CHROM 16
BETA - GENE MUTATION CHROM 11
What are the two types of 2 gene deletions of ALPHA THALASSEMIA? Which has a worse clinical picture?
- CIS-DELETION - Both alleles on 1 copy of Chrom 16 are lost
- TRANS-DELETION - One allele from each copy of Chrom 16 is lost
CIS-DELETION = Worse clinical picture
Which population is cis-deletion ALPHA THALASSEMIA more prevalent in? Which population is trans-deletion ALPHA THALASSEMIA more prevalent in?
CIS-DELETION: Asia - Believed to explain the higher rate of spontaneous abortions in Asia
TRANS-DELETION: Africa
How does one confirm a 3-gene deletion ALPHA THALASSEMIA?
HbH (beta4 tetramer) can be detected via ELECTROPHORESIS
IN UTERO: 3-gene alpha chain deletion is SUFFICIENT
POST-BIRTH: HbH: beta dimer (beta2) can’t bind to alpha dimer (alpha2) -> beta2 binds to another beta2 -> beta4
How does one confirm 4-gene deletion ALPHA THALASSEMIA?
Hb Barts (gamma4) can be seen on electrophoresis
IN UTERO: Lethal (Hydrops fetalis) - Formation of GAMMA4 (Hb Barts) - Gamma dimer (Gamma2) does not have alpha2 dimer to bind with -> Binds with another gamma2 -> Gamma tetramer
What is the key finding on electrophoresis of BETA THALASSEMIA MINOR (b/b+)?
ISOLATED INCREASE in HbA2 (alpha2delta2)
What is the most mild form of beta thalassemia? What is the most severe form of beta thalassemia?
BETA THALASSEMIA MINOR (b/b+) - most mild
BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR (bo/bo) - most severe
In managing BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR, chronic transfusions are often given. What is a complication that the pt is at risk for in receiving this treatment?
SECONDARY HEMOCHROMATOSIS - Every time pt is getting transfusion, he/she receives bag of Fe as well as RBC -> Excess Fe builds up in tissue as body has no physiological means of eliminating Fe
Crewcut appearance on X-ray + Chipmunk-face are indicative of __?
BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR or SICKLE CELL ANEMIA - Due to expansion of hematopoiesis in skull (crewcut) + facial bones by massive erythroid hyperplasia due to severe anemia
BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR, HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS, and SICKLE CELL ANEMIA pts are at risk of APLASTIC CRISIS with which type of infection?
PARVOVIRUS B19 infection inhibits erythroid precursors from producing mature RBC for 1-2wks
What are the three complications of BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR and SICKLE CELL ANEMIA
- Hematopoiesis in skull + facial bones
- Extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen -> HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY (beta thalassemia), HEPATOMEGALY (sickle cell, since sickle cell pts generally don’t have a spleen)
- Risk of APLASTIC CRISIS with Parvovirus B19 infection
Blood Smear: MICROCYTIC, HYPOCHROMIC RBC + TARGET CELLS + NUCLEATED RBC.
Which RBC disorder am I?
BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR (bo/bo)
Not beta thalassemia minor (b/b+) - microcytic hypochromic RBC + target cells. Anemia is not severe enough. In beta thalassemia major, anemia is SEVERE to a point that massive erythroid hyperplasia occurs -> expansion of hematopoiesis (particularly erythropoiesis) in the skull, facial bones, spleen -> some nucleated RBC escape
What is the isolated key finding of BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR on electrophoresis?
LITTLE or NO HbA (alpha2beta2) INCREASED HbA2 (alpha2delta2), HbF (alpha2,gamma2)
Why do RETICULOCYTES have slightly bluish cytoplasm?
Reticulocytes = BABY RBC (larger in size with bluish cytoplasm)
RESIDUAL RNA within cytoplasm
What lab data does one use to distinguish between normocytic anemia due to PERIPHERAL RBC DESTRUCTION (i.e. HEMOLYSIS) and normocytic anemia due to BONE MARROW UNDERPRODUCTION?
RETICULOCYTE COUNT (RC) - Normally 1-2%
*RC>3% - GOOD BONE MARROW RESPONSE (Bone marrow is able to respond by increasing RC to try to make up for the loss of RBC) + PERIPHERAL RBC PRODUCTION (Intravascular OR extravascular)
RC
Where do you see bone marrow hyperplasia with RETICULOCYTE COUNT (adjusted) >3%? Normocytic anemia due to EXTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS or INTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS?
BOTH
RETICULOCYTE COUNT (adjusted)>3% for both since RBC destruction is occurring peripheral to the bone marrow with a good bone marrow response
Which hemolytic normocytic anemia do you see ANEMIA with SPLENOMEGALY and JAUNDICE? Intravascular or extravascular? Explain why.
EXTRAVASCULAR
SPLENOMEGALY - Extravascular hemolysis (Splenic macrophages are consuming the RBC) -> Splenic hypertrophy = SPLENOMEGALY
JAUNDICE = Buildup of serum INDIRECT/UNCONJUGATED Bilirubin (breakdown product of protoporphyrin from HGB breakdown after splenic macrophages consume the RBC). Liver can not keep up in its conjugation rate of the indirect bilirubin bec so many RBC are being lysed
Which hemolytic normocytic anemia do you see ANEMIA with an INCREASED RISK of BILIRUBIN GALLSTONES? Intravascular or extravascular? Explain why.
Extravascular
Buildup of INDIRECT/UNCONJUGATED Bilirubin in the bloodstream -> Eventually gets conjugated in the liver -> Dumped into the bile in the gallbladder.
Supersaturation of BILIRUBIN in the bile = BILIRUBIN GALLSTONES
What is the first change in clinical lab data when assessing for normocytic anemia with INTRAVASCULAR hemolysis?
DECREASED HAPTOGLOBIN - HGB leaks out from RBC and gets immediately picked up by serum haptoglobin -> Delivered to the spleen for recycling of Fe and HGB
What are the significant urinalysis values in determining normocytic anemia with INTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS? (Hint: 1 first, followed by another a few days later)
- First, HEMOGLOBINURIA - HGB leaked from the RBC into the blood -> Leaks into the urine
- Few days later, HEMOSIDERINURIA - Some of the H2O-soluble HGB is picked up by renal tubular cells -> Broken down -> Fe accumulates into HEMOSIDERIN -> Sloughed off tubular cells -> hemosiderinuria
Name the 3 main NORMOCYTIC ANEMIAS with PREDOMINANT EXTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS.
- HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS
- SICKLE CELL ANEMIA - E6V: Autosomal recessive
- HGB C - E6K (HB C HAS LYSSSSSINE): Autosomal recessive
What is the inherited defect in HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS?
Defect in RBC cytoskeletal-membrane tethering proteins
What are the most common RBC cytoskeletal-membrane tethering proteins that maintain its BICONCAVE shape? (3)
‘ABS-Shape’
- ANKYRIN
- BAND 3.1
- SPECTRIN
DDx of having INCREASED MCHC (Mean corpuscular HGB Concentration). Describe the mechanism of which MCHC is increased.
- HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS
- AUTOIMMUNE ANEMIA
As the cell is shrinking down, cytoplasm remains about the same. Apparent [HGB] INCREASES
Which 3 anemias have the complication of increased risk of APLASTIC CRISIS with PARVOVIRUS B19 Infection of erythroid precursors?
- BETA THALASSEMIA MAJOR
- HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS
- SICKLE CELL DISEASE
What is the diagnostic test for HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS?
OSMOTIC FRAGILITY TEST on HYPOTONIC SOLN
Normal RBC (YES BICONCAVE CENTER): Fairly resistant to hypotonic solution -> Water entering the RBC -> Biconcave center has room for it to expand without bursting
SPHEROCYTE (NO BICONCAVE CENTER): Increased fragility (bursting) to hypotonic solution
What is the Tx for HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS?
SPLENECTOMY - Resolves anemia since splenic macrophages can no longer consume the spherocytes
Will the spherocytes disappear when pts with HEREDITARY SPHEROCYTOSIS receive a splenectomy?
NO
Because the inherited defect of cytoskeletal-membrane proteins still exist -> Membrane blebs will still form outside the RBC -> Other macrophages in the RES other the spleen (liver, lymph node) will consume the blebs -> Spherocytes will still form