anaemia part 2 Flashcards
what should be checked when anaemia is suspected?
- check haemoglobin to check if anaemic
-check RCC - is anaemia associated with normal or reduced rbcs
-check htc- blood volume % of rbcs
-check mcv to determine potential cause of anaemia
if a patient with anaemia with a normal RCC- what would be the likely cause of anaemia?
GI bleeding- chronic blood loss or low blood loss
or renal/chronic disease
what are the 3 mean cell volumes?
microcytosis- small rbcs
macrocytosis- large rbcs
normocytosis- normal rbcs but reduced haemoglobin
what deficiency may cause microcytosis?
iron deficiency/thalassaemia
what may cause macrocytosis?
b12/folate deficiency
what is hypochromic anaemia?
cells are less red due to less haemoglobin
what is ansiocytic?
exaggerated sizes of rbcs- either very large or very small
what happens to rbcs as they form?
they shrink
- so macrocytotic cells don’t shrink enough during maturation and are immature cells
what is another form of immature rbcs?
reticulocytes- still contain organelles
-are released early to replace blood loss
-will also be large as immature so mcv will be raised
what are the signs of anaemia?
pallor (including pale mucosa)
tachycardia
what are the symptoms of anaemia?
tired/weak due to poor 02 circulation
palpitations
dizzy
shortness of breath
what may be seen clinically with iron deficiency?
oral ulcers
angular cheilitis
smooth tongue (loss of tongue papillae)
oral mucosa diseases
what may be seen clinically with a b12 deficiency ?
beefy/swollen tongue
how is anaemia investigated?
FBC
GI loss- endoscopy/faecel occult count
-renal function
bone marrow exam
what is the treatment for anaemia?
treat cause
haemotinics replacement- iron/folate/b12 supplements
-blood transfusion
