Anaemia: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "'''Anaemia''' is defined as the reduction in circulating red blood cell-mass below normal levels. It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to tissue hypoxia. It is diagnosed by haemoglobin concentration. The WHO defines anaemia as a haemoglobin concentration < 13 g/dL for men and < 12 g/dL for women, but the normal ranges vary a bit from laboratory to laboratory. Anaemias can be classified according to the morphology of the RBCs or according to...") |
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Revision as of 16:37, 19 October 2023
Anaemia is defined as the reduction in circulating red blood cell-mass below normal levels. It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to tissue hypoxia. It is diagnosed by haemoglobin concentration. The WHO defines anaemia as a haemoglobin concentration < 13 g/dL for men and < 12 g/dL for women, but the normal ranges vary a bit from laboratory to laboratory.
Anaemias can be classified according to the morphology of the RBCs or according to the etiology.
Classification of anaemias according to morphology:
Microcytic anaemia | Normocytic anaemia | Macrocytic anaemia | |
---|---|---|---|
MCV (fL) | < 80 | 80 – 100 | > 100 |
Pathomechanism | Insufficient haemoglobin production | Increased RBC loss and/or decreased erythropoiesis | Insufficient RBC production and/or maturation, possibly due to defective DNA synthesis or DNA repair |
Possible causes | Iron deficiency anaemia | Haemolytic anaemias: | Vitamin B12 deficiency |
Anaemia of chronic disease (late phase) | Sickle cell anaemia | Folate deficiency | |
Thalassaemia | G6PD deficiency | Certain drugs (phenytoin, sulfa drugs) | |
Lead poisoning | Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria | Fanconi anaemia | |
Chronic blood loss | Hereditary spherocytosis | Liver disease | |
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia | Alcohol abuse | ||
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (TTP/HUS) | |||
Macroangiopathic haemolytic anaemia | |||
Non-haemolytic anaemias: | |||
Acute blood loss | |||
Aplastic anaemia | |||
Anaemia of chronic disease (early phase) |
General features of anaemia
- Fatigue
- Pallor – especially of lips and conjunctiva
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Palpitations
- Tachycardia