Anemia Flashcards
microcytic anemias
- MCV < 80fl
- iron deficiency//chronic disease, thalassemia
normocytic anemias
- 80 < MCV < 100fl
- chronic disease, bone marrow, hemolytic anemia
macrocytic anemia
- MCV > 100fl
- B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, megaloblastic, liver disease
MCHC
mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = hemoglobin concentration/hematocrit –> normal = 32-36 g/dL
MCV
mean corpuscular volume
Iron deficiency anemia epidemiology
most common anemia; f>m
Iron deficiency anemia causes
lack of available iron limits hemoglobin synthesis:
- insufficient intake
- GI bleed
- menstrual loss
Iron deficiency anemia ID
microcytic anemia, decreased serum iron/ferritin/transferrin, increased total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
Anemia of chronic disease ID
IL6 -> hepcidin excess -> iron retained in macrophages -> EPO restricted by iron
Pernicious Anemia
- autoimmune gastric atrophy -> reduced intrinsic factor production -> reduced B12 production -> defective nuclear maturation/DNA synthesis -> anemia/low reticulocytes • ID: macrocytic anemia, reduced reticulocyte index, abnormal Schilling test, low serum B12 or folate
Schillings test
staged radiolabeled B12 to track renal excretion -> increased urinary output diagnosis pernicious –> distinguishes between various causes of low if
Aplastic Anemia/Bone marrow failure
• severe normocytic anemia • idiopathic or secondary to medications, toxins, or infections
Hemolytic anemia
results from RBC destruction –> initial reticulocytosis but ultimately results in anemia
Hemolytic anemia - intravascular hemolysis ID
- low haptoglobin
- high hemoglobin
- hemoglobinuria
in addition to normal hemolytic anemia
- increased LDH
- increased bilirubin
- increased reticulocytes
Hemolytic anemia - extravascular hemolysis ID
- increased LDH
- increased bilirubin
- increased reticulocytes
Hemolytic anemia - Hereditary spherocytosis
- autosomal dominant defect of spectrin/ankyrin –> reduces RBC deformability –> splenic mediated hemolysis
- Epi: Northern europe
- ID: range of splenomegaly spherocytes, reticulocytosis, elevated MCHC, increased osmotic fragility, negative DAT
- Tx: splenectomy
Hemolytic anemia - Hereditary elliptocytosis
- autosomal dominant defect of structural proteins –> reduces resistance to shear –> mostly asymptomatic
- ID: African/Med elliptocytes, normal osmotic fragility
Hemolytic anemia - G6PD deficiency
- X linked defect of oxphos
- low G6PD -> low NADPH -> low glutathione -> predispose to oxidative damage
- Epi: most common red cell enzymopathy
- A- 10% of Afr.Am. men –> only reduced G6PD in old cells
- B- 5% of Med/Asian –> reduced G6PD in all cells
- ID: fava beans, sulfa ab’s, male, neonatal jaundice, bite cells, heinz bodies, increased LDH, decreased haptoglobin, - coombs test
Hemolytic anemia - Autoimmune
Ig mediated destruction of host RBCs
Hemolytic anemia - Warm autoimmune
- mediated by IgG vs. Rh antigens -> Fc phagocytosis in spleen -> transfusion dependent chronic anemia
- ID: spherocytes, + DAT/Coombs
- Causes: idiopathic, lupus etc, methyldopa, lymphoproliferative disorders
- Tx: corticosteroids, splenectomy, immunosuppressive
Hemolytic anemia - Cold autoimmune
- mediated by IgM that react at cold temp –> complement mediated lysis or phagocytosis by C3b Kuppfer cells in liver
- cause cold agglutinin syndrome or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
- ID: spherocytes, agglutination at room temp with + DAT/Coombs
- triggers: cold exposure
- causes: idiopathic, EBV, mycoplasma, lymphoproliferative disorders
- Tx: avoid cold, rituximab, plasma exchange
Hemolytic anemia - Microangiopathic
- intravascular hemolysis as RBCs are shredded by fibrin strands attached to injured endothelial beds
- associated with aortic stenosis, HUS, TTP, DIC, HELLP, eclampsia, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, sepsis
- ID: schistocytes
Hemolytic anemia - Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
- rare X-linked PIGA gene mutation -> decreased anchoring protein -> limited expression of DAF/CD55 and MIRL/CD59 (membrane inhibitor of lysis) -> less regulation of complement-mediated lysis -> lysis
- ID: hematuria, flow cytometry for CD55/CD59
- Risks: increased risks of DVT, aplastic anemia
- Tx: iron/folate supplement, blood transfusion, Eculizumab (c5 inhibitor)
Hemolytic anemia - Drug-induced
- Immune mediated:
- Hapten mediated: penicillin/cephalosporins coats rbc’s and acts as AB hapten
- Neoantigen: drug induces change in membrane exposing a neoantigen
- Alteration of antigen: drug induces alteration in membrane component, rendering antigenicity
- Non-immune mediated: drug is toxic to RBCs with underlying mutationsl ike G6PD deficiency
- Tx: withdrawl of drug
Offending drugs:
- ßlactams
- NSAIDs
- Quinine
- Ribavirin
