W2: Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Question 1

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common anaemia in the world. True or False?

Answer 1

True, and it is also the most important cause of microcytic , hypochromic anaemia.

Question 2

What are the physiological causes for iron deficiency?

Answer 2

1. Pregnancy, because fetus needs iron

2. Lactation

Question 3

What are the pathological causes for iron deficiency?

Answer 3

1. Bleeding
2. Reduction in iron absorption due to GI problems
3. Resection of GI tract, specifically duodenum and jejunum, where most iron are absorbed

Question 4

To increase oxygen delivery to tissues, heart pumps more blood, this is known as ________. A compensatory mechanism

Answer 4

Tachycardia (Heart beat >100 beats/m)

Question 5

Spoon nails AKA_____, is when nails become flat or concave. A specific sign of IDA.

Answer 5

Koilonychia

Question 6

_________ is a another sign of IDA, where fissures form at the corners of the mouth.

Answer 6

Angular stomatitis

Question 7

Explain Pica.

Answer 7

Behavioral changes that happened when CNS is affected due to iron deficiency.

Pica is a cravings to eat non-nutritive substances , weird stuff such as dirt, clay, pencil, paper etc.

Question 8

Painless glossitis is a sign of IDA as well. What is that?

Answer 8

Smoothening of tongue accompanied by swelling and redness. Smooth due to atrophy of papillae.

Question 9

What are the findings in IDA laboratory investigations?

Answer 9

For FBC,
- there will be Low RBC, haemoglobin, haematocrit and reticulocyte.

There will be normal or elevated platelets. because somehow iron deficiency causes more TPO hence more platelets.

For RBC indices,
- low MCV, MCH and MCHC

Question 10

In peripheral blood smear of IDA, the RBC appears to be ________ with a ________ central pallor. The shape of the RBC also changes. A common shape found is ______.

Answer 10

smaller RBC (microcytic), wider central pallor (hypochromic), elliptocyte

Question 11

There are 4 parameters of the iron studies:

1. Iron = amount of ____ iron bound to ______.
2. ______ saturation = ratio of serum to ______
3. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) = measure the blood capacity to bind iron with _______
4. _______ = measures the size of iron storage

Answer 11

Iron = amount of circulating iron bound to transferin

Transferin saturation = ratio of serum to TIBC

TIBC = measure the blood capacity to bind iron with transferin

Ferritin = measures the size of iron storage

Question 12

Mild reduction of iron stores lead to ___________. Still okay.

Answer 12

Negative iron balance

Question 13

Complete depletion of iron stores lead to ______. The serum _____ also reduces. Kinda serious.

Answer 13

Poor erythropoiesis. Serum ferritin reduces.

Question 14

IDA is when there is complete depletion of _______ and reduction in ________.

Answer 14

Depletion in iron stores.

Reduction in circulating iron

Question 15

Even at negative iron balance state, the RBC will start to change shape, become smaller and whiter. True or False?

Answer 15

FALSE. Only at IDA it will change.

Question 16

How to determine the severity of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 16

Use the Iron studies lah.

Stage 1 = negative iron balance

stage 2 = poor erythropoiesis

stage 3 = IDA