Symposium 1 - Anaemia Flashcards
What is the diameter of a red cell?
7-8 microns
Where does erythropoiesis happen?
Bone marrow
How much blood is there is ithe body?
5L
Complete the diagram of erythropoiesis
Complete the diagram of erythropoiesis
What molecule is this?
Haemoglobin
What molecule is this?
Haemoglobin
What are the 4 causes of anaemia?
- Not making enough (synthesis)
- Getting used up too quickly (consumption)
- Losing it somewhere (bleeding)
- Hiding it somewhere (sequestering)
What are the 2 types of problems of synthesis and what are the morphological features of these?
•Not enough iron – small pale cells
–microcytic, hypochromic
•Not enough B12 / folate – big cells
–“megaloblastic anaemia”
–macrocytic, right-shifted
What does this blood film show?
Microcytic anaemia – Iron deficiency
What does this blood film show?
Megaloblastic anaemia – B12/folate
What does this blood film show?
Megaloblastic bone marrow
If you see microcytic anaemia, what are the 2 possible conditions?
- Fe deficiency – acquired
- Thalassaemia – inherited
What blood results would be abnormal in iron deficient anaemia?
–Low ferritin
–Low Fe, high transferrin, low transferrin saturation
What blood results would be abnormal in thalassaemia?
–Normal ferritin, abnormal Hb electrophoresis/HPLC
If you see macrocytic anaemia, what are the 2 possible causes?
- B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
What does B12 / folate deficiency affect?
Defective DNA synthesis; delayed cell maturation
What are the possible causes of B12 deficiency?
- autoimmune pernicious anaemia
- Lack of intrinsic factor – inadequate absorption
- Other causes (vegan, gastric surgery, Crohn’s)
What are the possible causes of folate deficiency?
–Dietary lack (tea and toast diet); alcohol
–Malabsorption (coeliac); excess utilisation; pregnancy
What are the 2 conditions that causes normacytic anaemia?
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Renal failure (lack of erythropoietin)
How does cancer of chronic disease cause normacytic anaemia?
–Normal-sized cells
–Iron trapped inside macrophages
Name some examples of diseases which cause anaemia of chronic disease
What abnormal blood results would you find with anaemia of chronic disease?
–Normal/raised ferritin, normal/low transferrin
–Raised hepcidin (and inflammatory proteins)
How is normacytic anaemia caused by renal failure treated?
–Treat with recombinant Epo (weekly sc injection)
How does bone marrow failure cause anaemia?
Not making enough red cells
What abnormal blood results would you find in anaemia caused by bone marrow failure?
Reticulocyte count is low
Haematinics (iron, B12 and folate) are normal
What are the 2 main causes of bone marrow failure and name some examples
Can be congenital
–rare bone marrow failure states
Or acquired, three causes:
–1) Marrow is empty (aplastic anaemia)
–2) Marrow is full (infiltration e.g. leukaemia)
–3) Marrow is not working (e.g. dysplasia)
How does excess consumption cause anaemia and what is the main reason for excess consumption?
- Excess consumption = shortened red cell survival
- Main reason is haemolysis (red cell lysis)
What are the inherited and acquired causes of excess RBC consumption?
–Inherited:
- Membrane problems
- Haemoglobin problems
- Metabolic problems
–Acquired:
- Immune (antibodies)
- Non-immune (direct damage)
What are the 3 types of inheritied red cell problems and name some examples
•Membrane problems
–e.g. hereditary spherocytosis
•Haemoglobinopathy
–e.g. sickle cell disease (wrong type of Hb)
–e.g. thalassaemia (not enough Hb)
•Metabolic
–e.g. G6PD deficiency
What is hereditary spherocytosis and what is the main treatment?
Inheritied red cell membrane problem -
–Red cells are spherical, not biconcave
–Splenectomy can help (may need cholecystectomy for gallstones also)
What is G6PD deficiency and what must be avoided?
–X-linked recessive, males, Afro-Caribbean
–Must avoid fava beans, legumes, certain antimalarials and antibiotics
What condition is this?
Hereditary spherocytosis
Red cells are spherical, not biconcave
What condition is this?
Hereditary elliptocytosis