Anaemia Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are the cut offs for anaemia in the dog?
30-36% mild anaemia
18-29% moderate
Less than 18% severe
What are the cut off for anaemia in the cat?
20-24% mild
15-19% moderate
Less than 14% severe
How can you classify an anaemia based on MCV?
High MCV - macrocytic - regenerative anaemia
Normal MCV - normocytic - normal / anaemia of chronic disease
Low MCV - iron deficiency anaemia, PSS
How can you classify anaemia based on MCHC?
Raised MCHC - hyperchromic - rare - artefact
Normal MCHC - normochromic - anaemia of chronic disease
Low MCHC - hypochromic - iron deficiency anaemia
How can you assess the regenerative response on a blood smear?
Degree of polychromasia on a blood smear
Absolute reticulocyte count
When will you see a regenerative anaemia?
Haemolysis
Haemorrhage
When will you see non-regenerative anaemias?
Primary bone disease
- Bone marrow suppression - oestrogen pill ingestion, Sertoli cell tumour
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic blood loss anaemia
Regenerative or non-regenerative
Microcytic, microchromic anaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Non regenerative, normochromic, normocytic anaemia
- CKD
- mild chronic inflammation
Anaemia in IMHA
Severe anaemia Marked regeneration Spherocytes Cell ghosts Agglutination - diagnostic
Left shift neutrophillia and monocytosis
What is a metarubricyte?
Young nucleated RBC that can’t be distinguished from a granulocyte by the analyser
What test should you use to confirm a diagnosis of IMHA?
Coombs test
How should you treat idiopathic IMHA?
Corticosteroids Azathioprine Cyclophosphamide Ciclosporin Plasmapheresis Splenectomy
Supportive
- oxygen
- fluids
- clopidogrel / aspirin - reduce the risk of thromboembolism
- blood transfusion
Cause of secondary IMHA?
Neoplasia Intra-erythrocytic parasites / Bacteria - mycoplasma haemofelis - anaplasma - babesia - erhlichia Feline retroviruses - FeLV
What infectious agent causes a non-regenerative, normocytic, normochromic anaemia which is not responsive to erythropoietin?
FeLV
Virus attacks bone marrow causing an aplastic anaemia
Which feline retrovirus causes leukopathia and leucocytopaenia?
FIV
Mycoplasma Haemofelis
Regenerative or non regenerative anaemia
Causes both intra and extra vascular haemolysis
Severe anaemia
Blood smear examination is insensitive therefore PCR recommended for diagnosis
Tx: doxycycline, prednisolone
Schistocytes
Fragmented RBCS
- DIC
- Glomerulonephritis
- Neoplasia
- Vascular anomalies
Acanthocytes
Multiple mounded projections on RBCs
- Liver disease
- Splenic haemangiosarcoma
- lymphoma
- Glomerulonephritis
Indicators of oxidative damage
Methaemoglobinaemia
Heinz bodies
Eccentrocytes
How can you treat oxidative injury to RBCs?
Withdraw cause
Methylene blue
N-acetyl cystine - paracetamol toxicity
