Week 4: Disorders of Blood Flashcards
What does MCV mean
Is the actual volume of the average red blood cell
Macrocytic is larger than normal, microcytic is smaller than normal
what does haematocrit mean
Is the ratio of RBC volume to the total blood volume
The actual packed cell volume
what is MCH
volume of the average Haemoglobin
What are the 4 types of defiency anaemia?
Iron defiency
Megaloblastic anaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
aplastic anaemia
what are the 2 types of increased destruction anaemia?
blood loss anaemia
haemolytic (autoimmune) anaemia
Iron Defiency Anaemia
Comment on RBC, WBC and PLT count.
Comment on MCH and MCV
Comment on the appearance of the RBC
decrease RBC, normal WBC and PLT count
Decreased MCH and decreased MCV
Microcytic and hypochromic
Explain the pathogenesis of iron defiency anaemia
decreased iron –> decreased Hb production –> decreased RBC size –> decrease RBC O2 carrying
what are the clinical features of iron deficient anaemia?
glossitis (inflamation of tongue)
stomatitis (inflammation of lips and stomach)
koilonychia (abnormally thin nails)
what are the causes of iron deficient anaemia
Main cause is bleeding (in developing countries this is caused by worms / infections, in developed countries cancers etc.)
Can also occur through poor nutrition
Megaloblastic anaemia
Comment on RBC, WBC and PLT count.
Comment on MCH and MCV
Comment on the appearance of the RBC
Decrease RBC, WBC and PLT count (pancytopenia)
increase MCH and MCV
Macrocytic and Normochromic
Explain the pathogenesis of megaloblastic anaemia
Is caused by Vitamin B12 and Folate deficiency which diminishes the ability of the blast cell to replicate DNA and divide (thus a deficiency will cause extremely large RBCs, in a diminished amount)
what are the clinical features of megaloblastic anaemia?
Mild jaundice
Glossitis (inflammation of tongue)
Chelitis (inflammation of lips)
Stomatitis (inflammation of mouth and lips)
What are the causes of megaloblastic anaemia?
Lack of an adequate diet
Can also be from GIT disorders and cancer therapies
Aplastic anaemia
Comment on RBC, WBC and PLT count.
Explain the pathogenesis
What are the causes for it
Decrease RBC, WBC and PLT (pancytopenia)
Caused by the stem cell not producing erythroblasts
idiopathic (could be from viral)
Haemloytic Anaemia (autoimmune)
What are the two types of this anaemia? and what causes them?
what are the clinical features of this anaemia
Comment on the MCH and MCV
Comment on the RBC, WBC and PLT count
Acquired
Immune response
Drugs
Infections
Congenital
Membrane abnormality (hereditary spherocytosis [HS])
Haemoglobin abnormality (sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia)
Enzyme abnormality (G6PD deficiency)
All of these affect young children, as foetal haemoglobin turns into adult haemoglobin and show severe anaemia and jaundice, splenomegaly (caused by breakdown of RBCs in spleen)
Clinical features of Haemolytic anaemia include;
Jaundice (which is caused by the breakdown of RBCs, which releases Hb, which breaks down into bilirubin (causing the yellowing of the skin)
Marrow expansion (as a response to RBC loss)
Haemolysis
Decreased MCH and MCV
Pancytopenia