Week 10: General blood disorders Flashcards
What does a low ferritin saturation indicate
Iron deficiency (confirmed)
What does a high ferritin saturation indicate
Inflammation (acute phase protein)
-inflammation can cause high ferritin levels even in an iron deficient patient
What does a low transferrin saturation indicate
- Iron deficiency
- It’s been a while since eating (eg after sleeping)
Transferrin is very variable according to mealtimes
What does a high transferrin saturation indicate
- Just eaten
2. Haemochromatosis
Relationship between transferrin saturation and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Inverse relationship.
Low transferrin saturation means a high TIBC
What transferrin and ferritin saturations indicate haemochromatosis
Transferrin saturation >50%
High ferritin
Apart from transferrin and ferritin,
what other tests can be used to diagnose haemochromatosis
- HFE gene test
- PEARL liver scan (to see amount of iron in liver)
- Liver USS
What gene is associated with haemachromatosis
HFE gene
What 4 conditions are associated with haemachromatosis
- Diabetes
- Liver failure
- Chondrocalcinosis in knees
- Heart failure
Causes of microcytic anaemia
- Iron deficiency
2. Thalassaemia
Causes of macrocytic anaemia
- Low B12/folate
- Pregnancy
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Myelodysplasia (blood cancer)
Symptoms of B12 vs folate deficiency
B12 deficiency causes neuropathy
Folate deficiency is usually asymptomatic (except during pregnancy)
Causes of low reticulocytes (baby RBC)
Bone marrow problem (inability to make RBC)
Causes of high reticulocytes (baby RBC)
Haemolysis
Results in Bone Marrow releasing immature RBC earlier, to try to combat anaemia
Causes of low WBC
- Drugs
- Very bad sepsis
- Late stage leukaemia