Diagnosing Anaemia Flashcards
What does Hb concentration drop during pregnancy?
As plasma volume increases.
What is the best first-line test in anaemia?
Full blood count
What are potentially going on in those with a high reticulocyte count?
Bleeding
Haemolysis
Differentiated by the presence of breakdown products (if raised, indicates haemolysis)
What are the main causes of microcytic anaemia?
Thalassaemia Anaemia of chronic disease Iron deficiency Lead poisoning Sideroblastic anaemia
Remember ‘TAILS’.
What are the main causes of macrocytic anaemia?
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Myelodysplasias
Chemotherapy
What are the main causes of normocytic anaemia?
Marrow failure Hypometabolic Marrow infiltration Renal impairment Chronic disease
What role does the kidney have in blood production?
It releases erythropoietin
How is renal anaemia treated?
Give exogenous erythropoietin.
What does low MCH mean?
Hypochromic cells
What does excess of alcohol do to blood cells?
Causes mild macrocytosis.
What causes macrocytic anaemia?
Nuclear maturation defects
What causes microcytic anaemia?
Cytoplasmic maturation defects
What is affected in thalassaemia?
Globin synthesis
What MUST be carried out in iron deficiency?
GI exam
What is the fluid of choice in immediate shock management?
Synthetic colloids
