Anaemia Part 2

Anaemia

Reduced oxygen carrying capacity of blood, or reduced numbers of red blood cells or their haemoglobin content or both. Diagnosed by a simple blood test for Haemoglobin levels.

Haemoglobin men 13.5 — 18g/dL women 11.5 — 16.5g/dL

Haematocrit value Percentage of the blood which is red cells, usually about 45%

Symptoms
Non specific symptoms
Tiredness
Fatigue
Weakness

Hypoxic cerebral effects
Fainting
Dizziness
Headache
Insomnia
Anorexia and dyspepsia

Hypoxia effects
Shortness of breath on exertion
Tingling in extremities
Angina
Amenorrhoea
Palpitations
Ischaemic conditions made worse

Signs
Pallor of skin, nail beds, mucus membranes
Tachycardia
Cardiac failure

Signs of iron deficiency
Brittle spoon shaped nails
Angular stromatitis
Glossitis

Aetiology
Anaemia can be caused basically in one of three ways, secondary to decreased erythropoiesis, increased haemolysis or secondary to blood loss

Decreased production
Deficiency of erythropoetic agents; iron, vit B12, folic acid, vit C, thyroxine, copper
Inadequate production – renal failure
Hypoplastic or aplastic

Haemolytic
Excessive red cell breakdown — haemolysis
May be raised serum bilirubin
May be caused by any haemolytic disease

Blood loss
Any cause of chronic haemorrhage

Iron deficiency anaemia
Aetiology
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
Treatment

Megaloblastic anaemia

Pernicious anaemia
Aetiology
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
Treatment

Aplastic anaemia
Aetiology
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
Treatment principles

Haemolytic anaemias
Pathophysiology
Hereditary spherocytosis
G6PD deficiency
Thalassaemia
Mechanical haemolytic anaemia
Haemolytic disease of the newborn

Sickle cell disease
Pathophysiology
Clinical features
Epidemiology
Treatment principles

Other forms of anaemia
Sideroblastic anaemia
Anaemia in renal disease
Anaemia of chronic disease
Cigarette smoking