Anemia

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Anemia is low hemoglobin.

There is a long list of causes for anemia. Usually, anemia is grouped by RBC cell size, mean corpuscular volume (MCV).

Classifications

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anemia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Macrocytic anemia (MCV>100 fl)
 
 
 
Normocytic anemia (MCV 80–100 fl)
 
 
 
Microcytic anemia (MCV<80 fl)

Microcytic anemia

Mnemonic TAILS:[1]

  • Thalassemia.
  • Anemia of chronic diesease.
  • Iron deficiency anemia.
  • Lead toxicity.
  • Sideroblastic anemia.

Macrocytic anemia

Mnemonic Few Big RBCs May Lead To Palor:

  • Folate deficiency.
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • Rx.
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes.
  • Liver disease (cirrhosis).
  • Thyroid disease (hypothyroidism).
  • Post-splenectomy.

Specific types of anemia

Pernicious anemia

General

  • Macrocytic anemia.

Etiology:

  • Autoimmune - leads to loss of parietal cells.
    • Parietal cells produce intrinsic factor (important for vitamin B12 absorption) and hydrogen chloride.

Diagnosis - serology for antibodies to:[2]

  • Parietal cells.
  • Iintrinsic factor.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Loss of parietal cells.

See also

References

  1. URL: http://www.step2review.com/content/sub_cat.php?cat_id=487__Microcytic_Anemia. Accessed on: 12 May 2011.
  2. Oh, R.; Brown, DL. (Mar 2003). "Vitamin B12 deficiency.". Am Fam Physician 67 (5): 979-86. PMID 12643357.