Anaemia Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are the three diagnostic classification schemes for anaemia?
Bone marrow response
Regenerative or non-regenerative
Indicators of regeneration
What’s the difference between MCV and RDW?
MCV is just the mean of red blood cell size whereas RDW takes into account the biggest and smallest (better indicator)
List specific indicators of anaemia.
Reticulocyte count
Polychromatophils
List non-specific indicators of anaemia
Elevated MCV and RDW
Anisocytosis
Metarubicytes
Basophilic stipling
What does polychromasia look like?
Increase in size of the central pallor of red cell - these are polychromatophils indicate anaemia
How long does it take for bone marrow to respond?.
3-4 days to get change in erythropoietin
What are the two things that cause regenerative anaemia? **
Haemolysis or haemorrhage *
Which recovers quicker, internal or external haemorrhage?
Internal because the body can reabsorb all the proteins and red blood cells lost.
What’s the difference between intravascular and extravascular haemolysis?
Intravascular - breakdown of RBC is incomplete so you get spherocytes. Occurs in blood vessel.
Extravascular- full breakdown of RBC get haemoglobinuria. Occurs in macrophage liver or spleen.
Does intravascular haemolysis cause haemoglobinuria and haemoglobinaemia?
Yes!
Why does extravascular and intravascular haemolysis matter?**
Any excess haemoglobin is potentially toxin when filtering through the kidney can cause haemoglobinuric nephropathy
What are some diseases that cause a reduced rate of erythrpoiesis like in non-regenerative anaemia?
Inflammatory disease
Renal disease
Marrow aplasia/hypoplasia
Erythroid hypoplasia/aplasia
Most non-regenerative anaemias are ___chromic and ___ cytic?
Normocytic normochromic
What is the major cause of ineffective non-regenerative anaemia?
Iron deficiency
What is the MCV and MCHC of an iron deficiency?
Begins as regenerative then more non-regenerative.
Microcytic normochromic hypochromic
When do you see schistocytes?
DIC, haemangiosarcoma and Fe deficiency.
What are the three reasons anaemia occurs?*
Blood loss
Decreased RBC production, maturation & release
Increased RBC fragility
Why do you get microcytes with Fe deficiency?**
Cells divide to be more mature in bone marrow and get smaller.
Cell division stops and cells divide again (really small) to carry more iron!
How do you differentiate between a functional and absolute iron deficiency?
Absolute - Iron is there but can’t be stored or immobilised mostly due to RBC issues like reduced production.
Functional - iron present but can’t be utilised (Fe is hiding in macrophages). due to inflammatory issues.
What’s some clinical signs and things to look for for iron deficiency?
Tarry faeces Regenerative then non-regenerative microcytic hypochromic anaemia Hypoproteinaemia Schistocytes Parasites Neoplasia
What condition do you have microcytes?
Fe deficiency non regenerative anaemia
What’s some indicators of inflammatory disease anaemia?
Mild normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anaemia. MNEL leukogram Hyperglobulinaemia Hyperfibrinogenaemia Acute phase proteins
What is the biggest indicator of anaemia caused by chronic renal disease?
Reduce erythropoietin production
Which endocrinopathies cause anaemia?
Hypothyroidism (test T3, T4 and TSH - TSH should be elevated)
Hypoadrenocorticism - no stress leukogram even though animal is sick
