Anaemia: Normacytic Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is normocytic anaemia?
RBCs are normal but reduced in number; MCV 80-100fl (normal range)
Basically either ACUTE BLOOD LOSS or HAEMOLYTIC anaemia causes!!!!!
What are the signs of acute blood loss?
Tachycardia, Hypotension, Pallor, Shock
Tyeps of CONGENITAL haemolysis
Types of ACQUIRED haemolysis
What characterizes haemolytic anaemia?
Premature destruction of red blood cells
What is hereditary spherocytosis?
Autosomal dominant defect in RBC cytoskeleton causing spherical shaped RBCs
What are the symptoms of hereditary spherocytosis?
- Failure to thrive
- Jaundice
- Gallstones
- Splenomegaly
- Aplastic crisis
What investigations are used for hereditary spherocytosis?
- FBC: raised MCHC, increased reticulocytes
- Blood film: spherocytes
What is the management for hereditary spherocytosis?
- Long term: folate replacement + splenectomy
- Acute haemolytic crisis: supportive treatment + transfusion
What is G6PD deficiency?
X-linked recessive disease and most common hereditary haemolytic anaemia in Mediterranean and African descent
What is the pathophysiology of G6PD deficiency?
- G6PD = enzyme used in metabolism
- ↓ G6PD → ↓ reduced NADPH → ↓ reduced glutathione → increased red cell susceptibility to oxidative stress
What are the symptoms of G6PD deficiency?
- Neonatal jaundice
- Jaundice
- Splenomegaly
- Intravascular haemolysis
What is the diagnostic test for G6PD deficiency?
G6PD enzyme assay (checked around 3 months after acute episode of haemolysis)
What is sickle cell disease?
Autosomal recessive condition resulting from the synthesis of abnormal Hb chains termed HbS
What is the most common cause of death in children with sickle cell disease?
Acute chest syndrome
What are the types of sickle cell crises?
- Thrombotic/painful
- Acute chest syndrome
- Anaemic - aplastic
- Anaemic - sequestration
What is the management for sickle cell crisis?
- Analgesia (opiates)
- Rehydrate
- Oxygen
- Antibiotics for infection
- Blood transfusion
- Exchange transfusion
What characterizes autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA)?
Rare disorder where the body attacks its own blood cells
What are the types of AIHA?
- Warm AIHA
- Cold AIHA
What is the investigation for warm AIHA?
- FBC: normal MCV, low Hb, reticulocytosis, low haptoglobin, raised LDH
- Blood film: spherocytes + reticulocytes
- direct antiglobulin test (Coomb’s test)
What are the causes of warm AIHA?
- Idiopathic
- AI disease (SLE)
- Neoplasia (lymphoma, CLL)
- Drugs (methyldopa)
What are the symptoms of cold AIHA?
Common features include Raynaud’s and peripheral cyanosis
What is anaemia of chronic disease?
Often asymptomatic, seen in chronic/AI/malignant disease; can also be microcytic
What characterizes aplastic anaemia?
Reduction in all cell lines (pancytopenia) due to hypoplastic or failure of bone marrow
