Anemias

Question 1

What is anemia defined as?

Answer 1

Hb level <130 (males) & <120 (females) g/L

Question 2

What does MCV stand for?

Answer 2

Mean corpuscular volume

Average size of RBC

Question 3

Microcytic anemia
Size?
Examples?

Answer 3

<80fl
Fe deficiency - mc worldwide
Thalassemia alpha/beta (chronic disease)
Sideoblastic anemia

Question 4

Normocytic
Size?
2 groups and based on what?

Answer 4

80-95
Haemolytic (high reticulocyte count)
Non haemolytic (low reticulocyte due to failing bone marrow)

Question 5

What is a reticulocyte?

Answer 5

Premature red blood cell still in bone marrow

Check reticulocyte count

Question 6

Examples of normocytic haemolytic

Answer 6

Haemolytic anemia
Sickle cell
G6PDH deficiency
AHA
Hereditary spherocytosis

Question 7

Examples of normocytic non haemolytic

Answer 7

Aplastic (bone marrow disorder)
Chronic disease esp CKD
Pregnancy
Myelophthisic anemia

Question 8

Normal RBC life span?
Haemolytic anemia?

Answer 8

120 days
5-10 days

Question 9

Macrocytic anemia
Test?
Size?
2 types?

Answer 9

Blood film
>95fl
Megaloblastic (Immature large RBC, DNA synthesis)
Non megaloblastic (large mature RBC)

Question 10

Examples of megaloblastic & non megaloblastic

Answer 10

Megaloblastic
B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency

Non megaloblastic
Alcohol
Hypothyroidism
NALD

Question 11

General Symptoms of anemia?

Answer 11

Fatigue, pallor, chest pain, exertional dyspnoea, tachycardia & hypotension, palpitations