Paeds Haem Flashcards
(46 cards)
Impaired red cell production causes
Red cell aplasia:
- Parvovirus B19
- Diamond-Blacfan anaemia
- Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood
- RARE: Falcon anaemia, aplastic anaemia, leukaemia
Ineffective erythropoiesis:
- Iron deficiency
- Folic acid deficiency
- Chronic inflammation
- RARE: lead poisoning, myelodysplasia
Increased red cell destruction causes
- Red cell membrane disorders - Hereditary spherocytosis
- Red cell enzyme disorders - G6PD
- Haemoglobinopathies - Thalassaemia/Sickle cell
- Immune (ONLY IN NEONATES): haemolytic disease of newborn, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Blood loss causes
Rare in children
- Feto-maternal bleeding
- Chronic GI blood loss (e.g. Meckel’s)
- Inherited bleeding disorders (von Willebrands)
Describe anaemia of prematurity
- Adequate erythropoietin production
- Reduced red cell lifespan
- Frequent blood sampling in hospital
- Iron/Folic acid deficiency (2-3 months)
Fanconi anaemia
- Autosomal recessive
- Congenital abnorms: short stature, abnormal radii + thumbs, renal malforms, microphthalmia, pigmented skin
- Tx = bone marrow transplant
Iron deficiency anaemia
Iron comes from…?
- Breast milk - low iron content but 50% absorbed
- Infant formula
- Cow’s milk, higher content but 10% absorbed
- Solids introduced at weaning
Iron deficiency anaemia
Causes
- Inadequate intake - if a delay in into of mixed feeding beyond 6 months/diet with insufficient iron
- Malabsorption - cows milk intolerance/IBD
- Blood loss
Iron deficiency anaemia
Presentation
- Fatigue
- Slower feeding
- Pallor
- Pica
- irritability
- Poor cognition
- anorexia
- tachy, cardiac dilation, murmur
- If recurrent –> suspect bleeding (Meckel’s/oesophagitis)
Iron deficiency anaemia
Ixs
- MICROCYTIC, hypochromic
- Low ferritin and serum iron
- Increased TIBC
- High ZPP
Iron deficiency anaemia
Tx
- Oral iron therapy –> ferrous fumarate
- Tx for 3-6 months
- SE = constipation
G6PD
Patho + Aetiology
- G6PD = rate-limiting enzyme in pentose phosphate pathway –> essential in preventing oxidative stress to red cells
- oxidant-induced haemolysis
- X-linked
- ## Mediterranean, Middle + far east, central Africa
G6PD
presentation
- Neonatal jaundice
- Intermittent episodes of acute intravascular haemolysis: fever, malaise, dark urine, abdo pain
(can be triggered by fava bean consumption, fever, acidosis, drugs - aspirin, Abx (nitrofurantoin), antimalarial)
G6PD
Diagnosis
- Between episodes = normal blood picture/no jaundice/no anaemia
- Measure G6PD activity in red cells AFTER crisis (misleading high numbers during crisis in reticulocytes)
G6PD
Tx
- Parents need to know signs of haemolysis (jaundice/pallor/dark urine)
- Tranfusions (rarely)
Hereditary spherocytosis
Aetiology + pathophysiology
- 1 in 5000 Caucasians
- AUTOSOMAL DOM (but in 25% no Fx - new mut)
- Mutations in genes for proteins of red cells
- Red cell loses part of the membrane
- Reduction in surface-to-vol ratio –> spheroidal
- Less deformable –> destruction in spleen microvasculature
Hereditary spherocytosis
Features
- Asymptomatic
- Jaundice
- Anaemia
- Splenomegaly
- Aplastic crisis (caused by Parvovirus B19)
- Gallstones
Hereditary spherocytosis
Diagnosis
- Blood films
- Coombs test - rule out autoimmune disease
Hereditary spherocytosis
Tx
- Folic acid
- Splenectomy = beneficial (.7yrs due to risk of post-splenectomy sepsis)
- Blood transfusions
- Cholecystectomy
Beta-thal
Genetics/chromosome
Chromosome 11
autosomal recessive
Beta-thal
Pathophysiology
- Dysfunction in production of beta-chains of haem
- Instead, the alpha-chains bind to delta and game chains –> increased HbA2 (LOADS) and HbF (a little)
- Free alpha chains also accumulate in red blood cells (Inclusions) –> haemolysis –> increased unconjugated bilirubin and iron plasma levels (jaundice + 2ndry hemochromatosis)
- Also causes hypoxia –> signal to spleen/bone marrow to make more red cells –> hepatosplenomegaly and skull bossing and chin bone growth (chipmunk facies)
Beta-thal
Presentation
Presents in first year of life Pallor SOB Lethargy Jaundice Ascites Hepatosplenomegaly Growth retardation FTT Chipmunk facies
Beta-thal
Complications of iron build-up
- Arrhythmias
- Pericarditis
- Cirrhosis
- Hypothyroidism
- DM
Beta-thal
Diagnosis
- XR - hair on end skull appearance
- Bloods: Low Hb, Low MCV, High RDW
- Blood smear: Microcrytic hypochromic cells, target cells
- High serum iron, high ferritin, high transferrin
- Haemoglobin electrophoresis: Low HbA, Slightly high HbF, Really high HbA2 (> 3.5%)
Beta-thal
Tx
- Periodic blood transfusions (though careful of increased iron)
- SC Iron chelating agents (Deferoxamine)
- Splenectomy
- Long term folic acid
- Bone marrow transplant