Anemia Types and Info

Question 1

How big should an RBC be? and how much should be central pallor?

Answer 1

size of lymphocyte nucleus

1/3 of total diameteer

Question 2

hyperchromic RBC

Answer 2

central pallor less than 1/3 diameter

Question 3

hypochromic RBC

Answer 3

central pallor greater than 1/3 diamter

Question 4

anisocytosis definition

Answer 4

RBCs vary in size

Question 5

microcytosis definition

Answer 5

small red blood cells, use MCV

Question 6

microcytosis possible causes

Answer 6

almost always iron deficiency

Thalassemias, lead poisoning, sideroblastic anemia, chronic disease, hemoglobin C disease

Question 7

Macrocytosis definition

Answer 7

RBSs are too big, use MCV

Question 8

causes of macrocytosis

Answer 8

B12/folate deficiency leading to megaloblastic problems or DNA synthesis issues

liver, thyorid, chemotherapy, anti retrovirals, aplastic anemia, MDS<

Question 9

hypochromasia definition

Answer 9

red cells with too little hemoglobin, central pallor will be more than 1/3

most common cause is iron deficiency

MCH measures

Question 10

polychromasia definition

Answer 10

red cells with more of a bluish hint…usually larger and likely reticulocytes

Question 11

poikilocytosis definition

Answer 11

RBCs varying widely in shape

Question 12

anisopoikilocytosis definition

Answer 12

RBCs varying in size and shape

Question 13

Target cells definition and causes

Answer 13

RBCs look like targets

liver disease, thalassemias, hemoglobin C, post splenectomy

Question 14

spherocytes definition

Answer 14

loss of central pallor in RBCs

Question 15

spherocytes causes (2)

Answer 15

hereditary spherocytosis and autoimmune hemolysis

Question 16

schistocytes definition and disorder it is marker for

Answer 16

red cell fragments with sharp edges

marker for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA)

Question 17

Bite cells definition and disorder it is marker for

Answer 17

RBCs with bites taken out of them

Heinz body hemolytic anemia

Question 18

most common deficiency leading the Bite cells or Heinz body hemolytic anemia

Answer 18

G6PD deficiency

Question 19

echinocytes/burr cells definition and common cause

Answer 19

small regular projections off the RBCs

seen in renal disease

Question 20

acanthocytes/spur cells definition and common cause

Answer 20

larger irregular projections off RBCs

liver disease

Question 21

teardrop cells definition and common causes

Answer 21

look like a teardrop

usually from myelophthisic processes like myelofibrosis, tumor metastasis in bone marrow, granulomatous diseases in marrow, leukemias/lymphomas

Question 22

howell jolly bodies definition and common cause

Answer 22

nuclear remnants in a RBC

seen after a splenectomy

Question 23

common cell disorders of RBC seen after splenectomy?

Answer 23

target cells, acanthocytes, schistocytes, howell jolly bodies

Question 24

rouleaux definition and common causes (2)

Answer 24

linear arrangements of RBCs, like coins stacked

due to increased levels of immunoglobulin seen in multiple myeloma and waldenstroms macroglobulinemia

sometimes hypo-albuminemia

Question 25

agglutination definition and common cause

Answer 25

usually due to the clumping of RBCs due to IgM coating the RBCs

Question 26

common things seen in smear with iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 26

hypchromic and microcytic cells increased number of platelets

Question 27

megaloblastic anemia findings on a smear and cause?

Answer 27

RBCs are macrocytic and neutrophils are hypersegmented B12 deficiencies

Question 28

findings on a smear with autoimmune hemolytic anemia?

Answer 28

polychromasia RBCs and microspherocyte RBCs

Question 29

hemoglobin measurement

Answer 29

directly measured...amount of hemoglobin

Question 30

hematocrit measurement

Answer 30

calculated, volume of RBC per volume of blood

Question 31

MCV measurement

Answer 31

mean cell volume, direct measurement of red cell volume

Question 32

MCH and MCHC measurements

Answer 32

calculated values

Question 33

RDW measurement

Answer 33

coefficient of variation in red cell size...gives idea on range of sizes seen in RBCs

Question 34

hypovolemia definition

Answer 34

low blood volume

Question 35

symptoms of acute hemorrhage leading to hypovolemia

Answer 35

hypotension, orthostatic changes, syncope, shock

Question 36

symptoms of tissue hypoxia that can be seen with anemic patients

Answer 36

fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive problems, ischemic pain (angina or claudication)

Question 37

body changes to acute anemia

Answer 37

increased CO by increase HR...sometimes SV vasoconstriction

Question 38

body changes to chronic anemia (3)

Answer 38

kidneys retain salt and water more to beef up blood volume increase erythrocyte 2,3DPG increase erythropoietin synthesis

Question 39

renal mesangial cells

Answer 39

sense low oxygen delivery and signal for erythropoietin synthesis

Question 40

3 mechanisms of anemia?

Answer 40

hemorrhage or bleeding hemolysis (short cell life) decreased cell production

Question 41

two ways to classify anemias?

Answer 41

by erythropoietic response and by red cell size and hemoglobin concentration

Question 42

two erythropoietic responses to anemia

Answer 42

hyperproliferative and make plenty of reticulocytes hypoproliferative and make too few reticulocytes

Question 43

What does it mean if reticulocyte index is less than 2% or absolute reticulocyte count is less than 75,000?

Answer 43

means you have a hypoproliferative problem

Question 44

What does it mean if reticulocyte index is more than 2% or absolute count is greater than 100,000?

Answer 44

hyperproliferative..anemic problem likely from hemorrhage or hemolysis

Question 45

What conditions give sign to give anemic patient a transfusion?

Answer 45

cardiovascular compromise...heart failure, angina, shock hypoproliferative anemis with no or prolonged recovery anemic patient going into surgery