haemotology Flashcards
how do you diagnose anaemia?
the symptoms are very non-specific so you have to run a blood test
what are the common symptoms of anaemia?
pale conductive pale nail bed glossitis (red painful tongue) angular cheilitis (fissures at corners of mouth) elevated DPG in RBC.
what does the 2,3 DPG levels of RBC mean?
higher DPG levels increases the RBC ability to release oxygen at respiring tissues.
what can cause iron-deficient anaemia?
poor diet
increased bleeding by increased menstruation, ulcers or increased gastrointestinal bleeding
or demand for iron has increased, ie when pregnant.
microcytic means?
decreased MCV, decreased diameter of red blood cell.
what can chronic bleeding be caused by?
gastrointestinal bleeding, or increased menstruation
why does a cell become microcytic?
when a red blood cell is starved of iron.
why does haemoglobin decrease a lot during chronic blood loss?
as the EPO takes a long time to be stimulated so it takes a while for the RBC production to resume.
what are the different treatments for iron deficient anaemia?
1) treat the underlying cause ie increased menstruation or gastrointestinal bleeding
2) oral iron tablet like iron sulphates
3) in pregnant women- iron tablets with folic acid
4) blood transfusion
why do you get renal anaemia?
normally a complication of renal disease.
as the kidney produce EPO which produces the RBC so RBC levels in blood is decreased.
eventually the renal anaemia will lead to normocytic anaemia.
how do you treat renal anaemia?
give EPO and Fe
why are pregnant women normocytic when they are anaemic?
as being pregnant causes increase MCV
but anaemia decreases MCV which cancels out.
why do pregnant women become anaemic?
as the mothers blood circulation increases and therefore the blood is diluted.
what is megaloblastic anaemia?
bone marrow is producing abnormal immature large red blood cells.
what is a megaloblast?
an abnormal red blood cell with a large MCV
