Types of anemia Flashcards
Ratio for hemoglobin to hematocrit
1:3 ratio
Example:
Hgb10
HCR 30
What is Wintrobe’s classification of anemia?
Evaluation of mean corpuscle volume
Microcytic anemia
MCV less than 80
Small cell
Normocytic
Normal size cell
MCV 80-96
Macrocytic Anemia
Abnormally large cells
MCV greater than 96
Do RBC sizes change during life span?
No
Normal RBC life span
90-120 days
Do RBC’s change color during life span?
No
What is MCH OR MCHC
Mean cell hemoglobin or mean cell hemoglobin concentration
Normal MCH
31-37
Hypochromic value
Less than 31
What is RDW
RBC distribution width
Normal RDW
11.5-15
This means new cells differ in size large or smaller than old cells
What does an elevated RDW indicate
Evolving micro or macrocytic anemia
What is a reticulocyte
Young RBC
How does the body try to correct an anemia
Increasing reticulocyte count
Normal reticulocyte count
1-2%
Normal increase of reticulocyte to anemia
Greater than 2%
Evolving microcytic anemia
As the cell volume (MCV) decreases the cell width (RDW) increases
Evolving macrocytic anemia
As the cell volume increases (MCV the cell width increases (RDW)
Most common causes of normocytic, normochromic anemia with a NORMAL RDW
Acute blood loss
Anemia of chronic disease
Hgb low Hct low RBC low MCV normal MCH normal RDW normal
What type of anemia
Normocytic normochromic anemia
With normal RDW
Most common cause of macrocytic hypochromic anemia with elevated RDW
Iron deficiency anemia
Commonly caused by chronic low volume blood loss
Where does the 85% of the bodies iron come from
Recycled old RBC
This is why blood loss causes iron deficiency
Hgb low Hct low RBC low MCV low MCH low RDW high
Microcytic hypochromic anemia with elevated RDW
Most common cause of microcytic hypochromic anemia with normal RDW
Alpha or beta thalassemia minor
Hgb low Hct low RBC high MCV low MCH low RDW normal
Microcytic hypochromic anemia with normal RDW
What test do you order if you suspect iron deficiency anemia
Ferritin level
Why not Iron serum because this is a measure of drug levels for iron- so this varies with ingestion of iron pills
Most common cause of macrocytic normochromic anemia with elevated RDW
Pernicious anemia
Other causes:
Dietary induced B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Hgb low Hct low RBC low MCV high MCH normal RDW high
Macrocytic normochromic anemia with elevated RDW
Causes of drug induced macrocytosis without anemia
Excessive ETOH CARBAMAZEPINE (tegrotol) Valproic acid (depakote) Phenytoin (Dilantin) Zidovudine (azt)
Hgb normal Hct normal RBC normal MCV high MCH normal RDW normal
Drug induced macrocytosis without anemia
