CBC Abnormalities

Question 1

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Answer 1

Most common, decreased iron in body, can be caused by blood loss, pregnancy, poor diet (young women only usually), gastric bypass

Question 2

Vitamin-deficiency anemia

Answer 2

low levels of vitamin B12 or folate from poor diet, vitamins required for erythropoiesis

Question 3

Aplastic anemia

Answer 3

Rare, results when body stops erythropoiesis, results from chemicals, drugs, autoimmune causes

Question 4

Hemolytic anemia

Answer 4

destruction of RBCs resulting from multiple causes, inherited, infection

Question 5

Anemia of chronic disease

Answer 5

occurs in the presence of multiple chronic conditions, results from decreased RBC production by bone marrow, chronic inflammatory and neoplastic states that impair RBC production

Question 6

Sideroblastic anemia

Answer 6

Multiple causes, bone marrow produces abnormal RBCs which prevent iron from being incorporated into hemoglobin

Question 7

Thasassemia

Answer 7

Body produces abnormal alpha or beta chain of hemoglobin, genetic (typical in middle eastern origin)

Question 8

Leukocytosis/Neutrophilia

Answer 8

elevated WBC count

Question 9

Leukopenia/Neutropenia

Answer 9

decreased WBC count

Question 10

Leukocytosis (causes)

Answer 10

Infections (mostly bacterial), certain medications (corticosteroids), smokers

Question 11

Leukopenia (causes)

Answer 11

Infections (viral, parasitic, some bacterial)

Question 12

Granulocytosis

Answer 12

leukocytosis due to increased numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils, or less commonly, basophils

Question 13

Severe neutropenia

Answer 13

0.5 x 10^3 (500), high risk for overwhelming and life threatening bacterial infection

Question 14

Moderate neutropenia

Answer 14

0.5-1.0 x 10^3 (500-1000), moderate risk for infection

Question 15

Mild neutropenia

Answer 15

1.0-1.5 x 10^3 (1000-1500), mild risk for infection

Question 16

Lymphocytosis

Answer 16

increased lymphocytes

Question 17

Lymphocytopenia

Answer 17

decreased lymphocytes

Question 18

Lymphocytosis (causes)

Answer 18

infection, predominantly viral. Less commonly bacterial. Mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), primary HIV infection, viral pneumonia, mumps, varicella, influenza, hepatitis, rubella, measles, pertussis, bartonella. Drug reactions, especially anticonvulsants. Higher in infants and young children.

Question 19

Lymphocytopenia (causes)

Answer 19

Bacterial or fungal sepsis, postoperative state, chemo or radiation, malignancy, glucocorticosteroids, immunosuppressants

Question 20

Increased monocytes (causes)

Answer 20

Bacterial/viral/parasitic infection, hematologic disorder, hemolytic anemia, autoimmune disorder

Question 21

Eosinophilia (causes)

Answer 21

Parasites, allergic disorders

Question 22

Eosinopenia (causes)

Answer 22

acute or bacterial infections

Question 23

Reactive thrombocytosis (causes)

Answer 23

Infection, post surgery, malignancy, postsplenectomy, acute blood loss or iron deficiency

Question 24

Most common thrombocytosis

Answer 24

cytokine driven

Question 25

Autonomous thrombocytosis (causes)

Answer 25

malignancy

Question 26

Thrombocytopenia (causes)

Answer 26

Lab error (platelets stuck together), drug induced, infection (HIV, hepatitis C, Epstein Barr, sepsis, parasites), alcohol, pregnancy, nutritional deficiencies, malignancies

Question 27

Increased RBC count (causes)

Answer 27

Cigarette smoking, dehydration, high EPO, polycythemia (abnormally high RBC and hemoglobin count)

Question 28

Decreased RBC count (causes)

Answer 28

Anemia, bleeding (GYN or GI), hematopoietic failure (radiation, toxins, tumors), poor nutrition (B6, B12, Folate, Iron), pregnancy, overhydration

Question 29

Increased hemoglobin (causes)

Answer 29

Tobacco use, advanced COPD, alcohol abuse, high altitude, dehydration (false elevation)

Question 30

Decreased hemoglobin (causes)

Answer 30

Acute blood loss anemia, malnutrition (B12, folate, iron), renal failure, disorders of hemoglobin structure (thalassemia, sickle cell)

Question 31

MCV (definition)

Answer 31

mean corpuscular volume (average volume of cells)

Question 32

MCHC (definition)

Answer 32

mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (% of platelet taken up by hemoglobin)

Question 33

MCH (definition)

Answer 33

mean corpuscular hemoglobin (average weight of the hemoglobin on the cells)

Question 34

RDW (definition)

Answer 34

red blood cell distribution width (variation of cell size)

Question 35

Hypochromic RBCs

Answer 35

Decreased concentration of hemoglobin. Decreased MCH or MCHC

Question 36

Normochromic RBCs

Answer 36

Normal concentration of hemoglobin. Normal MCH and MCHC

Question 37

Hyperchromic RBCs

Answer 37

Increased concentration of hemoglobin. Increased MCH or MCHC

Question 38

Normocytic Anemia

Answer 38

Most frequently encountered, decreased RBC production or increased RBC destruction. Decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, MCV normal

Question 39

Normocytic Anemia (causes)

Answer 39

acute blood loss, anemia of chronic disease (most common)

Question 40

Microcytic anemia

Answer 40

MCV is decreased, usually hypochromic (decreased MCHC)

Question 41

Microcytic anemia (Causes)

Answer 41

iron deficiency anemia (most common), alpha-thalassemia, beta-thalassemia, lead poisoning

Question 42

Macrocytic anemia

Answer 42

Increased MCV

Question 43

Macrocytic anemia (Causes)

Answer 43

Alcoholism, B12 or Folate deficiency, liver disease, drugs (multiple)