Symptom To Diagnosis - Anemia Flashcards
First step in determining the cause of anemia?
Determine the general mechanism of the anemia, using a PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC framework.
After determining the general mechanism, what is the next step in the DDx of anemia?
The next step is to determine the cause of the underproduction, hemolysis, or blood loss.
The framework of underproduction in the DDx of anemia is?
Morphologic.
Microcytic anemias:
MCV < 80.
- Iron def.
- Thalassemia.
- Anemia of inflammation (formerly called anemia of chronic disease).
- Sideroblastic anemia.
- Lead exposure.
Macrocytic anemias?
MCV > 100.
- Megaloblastic anemias (due to abnormalities in DNA synthesis; hypersegmented neutrophils).
a. B12.
b. Folate.
c. Antimetabolite drugs, such as methotrexate and zidovudine. - Nonmegaloblastic anemias (no hypersegmented neutrophils).
a. Alcohol abuse.
b. Liver disease.
c. Hypothyroidism.
Normocytic anemias?
- Anemia of inflammation.
- Early iron def.
- Infiltration of bone marrow due to malignancy or granulomas.
- RBC aplasia
a. Aplastic anemia.
b. Suppression by medication or parvovirus B19.
Hereditary hemolytic anemias:
- Enzyme deficiencies - G6PD.
- Hemoglobinopathies - such as sickle cell.
- RBC membrane abnormalities, such as spherocytosis.
Acquired hemolytic anemias?
- Hypersplenism.
- Immune:
a. Autoimmune: warm IgG, cold IgM, cold IgG.
b. Drug-induced: autoimmune or hapten. - Traumatic –> Impact/ Macrovascular (prosthetic valves)/ Microvascular (DIC, TTP, HUS)
- Infections (malaria, babesiosis).
- Toxins, such as snake venom and aniline dyes.
- Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.
Diagnostic approach of anemia - 1st step.
Check WBC, platelet count, smear.
Pancytopenia?
Yes –> Consider bone marrow process.
No –> Isolated anemia.
Diagnostic approach of anemia - Isolated anemia is found. Next step?
Check Reticulocyte production index.
If >2 –> Increased destruction (Hemolysis).
If Underproduction.
Diagnostic approach to anemia - Underproduction is found. Next step?
Check MCV.
Low-Normal-High –> Micro-Normo-Macro.
Diagnostic approach of anemia - MCV is low or normal. Next step?
Check ferritin.
If low –> Dx: Fe def. - Determine source.
If normal-high –> Check creatine, B12, folate, TSH, consider thalassemia.
Diagnostic approach of anemia - High MCV is found?
Check B12, folate, TSH, alcohol, and drug history.
Symptoms in chronic anemia are due to decreased?
Deceased O2 delivery to the tissues.
Symptoms in chronic anemia?
- Fatigue - Common, but NOT very specific.
- Dyspnea on exertion often.
- Exertional chest pain - In patients with underlying coronary artery disease or SEVERE anemia or BOTH.
- Palpitations and tachycardia can occur.
- EDEMA is sometimes seen.
- ASYMPTOMATIC if mild.
Edema in chronic anemia. Explain.
- Due to decreased renal blood flow –> leading to neurohormonal activation and salt and water retention, similar to CHF.
- HOWEVER - High cardiac output in anemia.
Symptoms of Hypovolemia in anemia?
Occur only in acute anemia due to large volume blood loss.
LR+ of conjunctival rim pallor for anemia?
16.7 –> Strongly suggests that the patient is anemic.
LR+ of palmar crease pallor in anemia?
7.9.
LR+ for pallor elsewhere (nail beds, facial) in anemia?
<5, not as useful.
Physical sign rules that out anemia?
None.
Overall sensitivity and specificity of the physical exam for anemia is about?
70%.
When to order a CBC for anemia?
- If the patient has suggestive symptoms, even WITHOUT physical findings.
- Or if you observe conjunctival rim or palmar crease pallor.
What is the importance of looking at a previous CBC?
To see if the current anemia is old, new, or progressive.
The best way to distinguish underproduction from hemolysis?
The Reticulocyte count.
Low or normal Reticulocyte count?
In underproduction anemias.
High Reticulocyte count?
When the bone marrow is responding normally to blood loss, hemolysis, or replacement of iron, B12, folate.
Reticulocyte count?
Percentage of circulating RBCs that are reticulocytes (normally 0.5-1.5%).
Absolute Reticulocyte count?
The NUMBER of reticulocyte actually circulating, normally 25.000-75.000/mcL - Multiply the percentage of reticulocytes by the total number of RBCS.
The Reticulocyte production index (RPI)?
Corrects the reticulocyte count for the degree of anemia and for the prolonged peripheral maturation of reticulocytes that occurs in anemia.
Normal maturation of reticulocytes?
First 3-3.5 days occur in the bone marrow and the last 24hr in the peripheral blood.
For a Hct of 25%, what is the peripheral blood maturation time of reticulocytes?
2 days. (2.5 days for Hct 15%).
Importance of MCV in the diagnostic approach of anemia?
MCV is NOT specific and should NOT be used to rule in or rule out a specific cause of anemia.
Percentage of patients with ABNORMAL serum B12, folate and iron, that have NORMAL MCV?
50%, in one study.
High MCV in iron def anemia?
5%.
Low MCV in B12 or folate def.?
12%.
Bottom line about MCV?
Use MCV to organize your thinking, NOT to diagnose the cause of an anemia.
Pretest probability for Fe def anemia in a patient with microcytic anemia and symptoms suggestive chronic blood loss?
80%.
Iron def. Anemia - Textbook presentation.
Young, menstruating woman who has fatigue and a craving for ice.
Typical presentations include fatigue, dyspnea, and sometimes EDEMA.
In very early iron deficiency, the CBC is?
Normal.
Iron def. - etiology:
- MCC is blood loss, most commonly menstrual or GI.
- Inadequate intake.
- Malabsorption seen in patients with gastrectomy, some bariatric procedures, celiac sprue, or IBD.
- Increased demand seen in pregnancy, infancy, adolescence, EPO therapy.
Gold standard exam for iron def?
Bone marrow exam for absence of iron stores.
Best SERUM test for iron def?
Serum ferritin.
What is the LR+ for a decreased serum ferritin in anemia?
Very high, ranging from 51 for a ferritin Low ferritin rules IN iron def. anemia.
What is the LR- for a serum ferritin >100ng/mL in the general population?
It is very low - 0.08.
–> In the general population, a ferritin >100ng/mL greatly reduces the probability the patient has iron def.
What is the main problem with ferritin?
It is ALSO an acute phase reactant –> Interpretation in the presence of inflammation is difficult.
Is ferritin helpful in diagnosing iron def. in the presence of inflammation?
There is a wide range of reported LRs, with many studies finding ferritin is NOT helpful in diagnosing iron deficiency in the presence of chronic illness.
To sum up, can ferritin be used to absolutely rule in or rule out iron def. anemia in patients with chronic inflammatory disease?
NO.
MCV, transferrin saturation (serum Fe/TIBC), red cell protoporphyrin, red cell ferritin, and RDW compared to ferritin?
ALL are LESS sensitive and specific compared to ferritin.
–> The best of these is transferrin saturation <5% with a LR+ of 10.46.
Treatment of iron def. anemia?
Oral iron replacement, with IV iron therapy reserved for patients who demonstrate malabsorption or who are unable to tolerate oral iron.
Best absorbed oral iron?
Ferrous sulfate - dose is 325mg 3x/day.
Transfusion in iron def. anemia?
Only if the patient is:
- HYPOTENSIVE.
- Orthostatic.
- Actively bleeding.
- Angina.
- Dizziness.
- Syncope.
- SEVERE dyspnea/fatigue.
GI effects of iron therapy?
SIGNIFICANT:
- Nausea.
- Abdominal pain.
- Constipation.
- -> Can be reduced by taking iron with food, and slowly titrating the dose from 1 tablet daily to 3 tablets over 1-2wks.
Increase in reticulocytes/Hb/Hct after iron therapy?
There should be an increase after 7-10 days, and an increase in Hb and Hct by 30 days.
–> If NO RESPONSE, reconsider the diagnosis.
How long should someone take iron in order to replete iron stores?
6 MONTHS.
What is important to keep in mind in iron def. anemia?
ALWAYS IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF BLOOD LOSS.
Be alert for occult malignancies.
Who needs a GI work-up in order to identify the source of iron def.?
- All men, all women without menorrhagia, and women over age 50 even with menorrhagia.
- Women under age 50 with menorrhagia do NOT need further GI evaluation, unless they have GI symptoms or a family history of early colon cancer or adenomatous polyps.
- Alway ask carefully about minimal GI symptoms in young women, since celiac sprue often causes iron def. due to malabsorption, and the symptoms can easily be attributed to IBS.
In order to identify the source of iron def. anemia, which GI test should be done first?
- In the absence of symptoms or in the presence of lower GI symptoms, do a COLONOSCOPY first.
- If there are upper GI symptoms, do an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) first.
- If the 1st test is negative, the other must be done.
- Small bowel RARELY has problems - can be omitted.
- If EGD shows a definitive bleeding source –> Colonoscopy can be reserved for SYMPTOMATIC patients or those who need routine colorectal cancer screening.
Pretest probability of B12/folate deficiency with an MCV of 115-129mcm^3?
50%.
Pretest probability of B12/folate def. with an MCV>130mcm^3?
Nearly ALL patient with an MCV>130 will have a vit. def.
Textbook presentation of B12 def?
An elderly woman with marked anemia and neurologic symptoms such as paresthesias, sensory loss (especially vibration and position), ataxia, dementia, and psychiatric symptoms.
Is anemia and macrocytosis always present in B12 def.?
NO - In 1 study –> 28% of patients with neurologic symptoms due to B12 deficiency had no anemia or macrocytosis.
In another study, what clinical characteristics were found in patients with B12 def.?
33% white, 41% black, 25% latino. 28% NOT anemic. 17% NORMAL MCV. 17% leukopenia. 35% thombocytopenia. 12.5% pancytopenia. 36% neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Important point about B12 def.?
The CBC can be NORMAL in B12 def.
MCC of B12 def?
- Food cobalamin malabsorption.
- Lack of intrinsic factor.
- Dietary deficiency - rare unless the patient follows a vegan diet.
Food cobalamin malabsorption due to impaired acid peptic digestion?
- B12 in this condition is often subclinical.
- It is caused by atrophic gastritis and achlohydria, which can be seen with chronic H.pylori infection, gastric surgery, long-term use of acid suppressing drugs.
Lack of intrinsic factor is caused by?
- Gastrectomy - ALL with total, and 5% with partial –> Become B12 def.
- Pernicious anemia.
PA is?
An immunologically mediated gastric atrophy leading to loss of parietal cells and a marked reduction in secretion of IF.
PA is uncommon?
Before age 30 and most often seen in patients over age 50.
History in PA?
25% will have a family history of PA.
10% will have autoimmune thyroid disease.
B12 def. due to malabsorption in the terminal ileum?
- Ileal resection or bypass.
- Tropical sprue.
- Crohn.
- Blind loop syndrome.
Drugs that interfere with B12 absorption?
Most notably:
- Metformin.
- Colchicine.
- Ethanol.
- Neomycin.
Rare cause of B12 def.?
Due to congenital disorders, such as transcobalamin II deficiency.
Why determining whether the patient is B12 deficient is more complicated than it seems?
- B12 levels can be falsely in folate def., pregnancy, and OCP use.
- B12 can be falsely normal in myeloproliferative disorders, liver disease, and bacterial overgrowth syndromes.
- Sensitivity/Specificity of B12 levels for true deficiency are NOT well established - Estimated sensitivity is 95% and specificity is 85%.