Anaemia

Question 1

What are the main causes of a microcytic anaemia?

Answer 1

• Iron deficiency
• Thalassaemia
• Sideroblastic anaemia

Question 2

What are the main causes of a normocytic anaemia?

Answer 2

• Acute blood loss
• Chronic disease (hepcidin)
• Bone marrow failure
• Renal failure (EPO)
• Hypothyroidism
• Haemolysis
• Pregnancy

Question 3

What are the main causes of a macrocytic anaemia?

Answer 3

• B12 deficiency
• Folate deficiency
• Liver disease
• Reticulocytosis
• Cytotoxic agents

Question 4

What are the main causes of a haemolytic anaemia?

Answer 4

• Acquired
  
  • Drug-induced (auto-immune) - penicillin, quinine
  • Autoimmune haemolytic
  • Transfusion reaction
  • Haemolytic disease of the newborn
  • Infection (malaria)
• Inherited
  
  • Enzymes (G6PD, pyruvate kinase)
  • Membrane defects (spherocytosis)
  • Sickle-cell
  • Thalassaemia