Anemia Flashcards
(35 cards)
Define Anemia
Lower than normal number of RBCs
Define Hematocrit
Measure of the percent of the colume of the whole blood made up by RBCs
Define Hematocrit
The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells.
Define the 3 types of hemoglobin
Type A, F, A2
What is the role of fetal hemoglobin?
Its primary job is bind tightly to oxygen by facilitating the transfer from mother to fetus across the placenta. After birth, the hgb F transitions to primarily hgb
What is the Retic index formula?
ReticCount X Hematocrit/Normal Hematocrit (45)
What is the cause of microcytic anemias?
"TICS" T- Thalassemia syndromes I- Iron Deficiency C- Chronic Disease S- Sideroblastic Anemia
Define thalassemia
When people do not have enough hemoglobin and is caused by the inheritance of a defective gene.
Discuss Beta thalassemia
Beta chain is absent or diminished (this indicates the severity of the disease); the more beta produced, the less severity of diagnosis
*What do beta thalassemia cells look like?
Target cells present
Hypochromic/microcytis (small and pale)
Discuss Alpha thalassemia
Alpha chain is absent
Discuss hydrops fetalis
No functional/lack of alpha chain
4 gene deletion that results in still borne birth, hepatosplenomegaly, marked anemia, increased MCV, and microcytic/hypochromic
- What are the characteristic lab findings of Iron deficient anemia?
low serum iron, high total iron binding capacity, low serum ferritin
What are the signs of anemia?
Skin Pallor, Pale Mucous Membranes, Mild Tachycardia,
Widened Pulse Pressure,
Systolic Ejection Murmur,
Mild Peripheral Edema
What are the symptoms of anemia?
Dyspnea on Exertion, Palpitations, Fatigue, Syncope
Mood Disturbances, Decreased memory, Abnormal Sleep Patterns, Pica, Brittle spoon nails, Blue Sclera
Glossitis,, Angular stomatitis,
Gastric atrophy, Impaired immunity, Decreased exercise intolerance
What are the causes of macrocytosis vitamin B12 deficiency
Pernicious Anemia Gastrectomy Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome Intestinal Causes Pancreatic Insufficiency Strict vegetarian Diet
What are the causes of macrocytosis folate deficiency
Decreased nutritional intake
Nontropical and tropical sprue
Increased Cell turnover
Drug Induced
Define anisocytosis
red cells are of unequal size.
Define poikilocytosis
which indicates that red cells of abnormal shape are present on the blood film.
Define Hypochromia
An anemic condition in which the percentage of hemoglobin in red blood cells is abnormally low (will present with clearish cells; low color)
Describe the role of erythropoietin.
- Stimulates Proerythroblasts formation
- Causes cells to pass through various stages of Erythropoiesis rapidly
- RBC production
- Anemia due to low erythropoietin will present with which type of cells?
Burr cells (echinocytes)
Definition of bilirubin?
Degradation by-product of heme breakdown within the reticuloendothelial system
What is the location of conjugated bilirubin?
Liver