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Anaemia: Difference between revisions
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'''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. | <section begin="clinical biochemistry" />'''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. | ||
People with chronic anaemia develop compensatory mechanisms, which is why they can function with lower Hb. | People with chronic anaemia develop compensatory mechanisms, which is why they can function with lower Hb. | ||
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! rowspan="12" |Possible causes | ! rowspan="12" |Possible causes | ||
|[[Iron deficiency anaemia]] | |[[Iron deficiency anaemia]] | ||
!''Haemolytic anaemias:'' | !''[[Haemolytic anaemia|Haemolytic anaemias]]:'' | ||
|[[Vitamin B12 deficiency]] | |[[Vitamin B12 deficiency]] | ||
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== General features of anaemia == | == Classification of anaemia according to reticulocytes == | ||
In response to anaemia, a healthy bone marrow will increase production of RBCs. This is evidenced on labs as an elevated reticulocyte count. If reticulocytes are not elevated or are decreased, it points to a primary problem with the bone marrow causing the anaemia. | |||
* Increased reticulocytes – bone marrow works hard | |||
** Bleeding | |||
** Haemolysis | |||
* Decreased reticulocytes – bone marrow doesn’t work | |||
** Aplastic anaemia | |||
** Leukaemia | |||
** Myelodysplasia | |||
** Myelofibrosis | |||
** Chronic kidney disease (EPO deficiency) | |||
<section end="clinical biochemistry" /> | |||
== General clinical features of anaemia == | |||
* Fatigue | * Fatigue | ||
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* Palpitations | * Palpitations | ||
* Tachycardia | * Tachycardia | ||
For more specific features, see the article of the specific form of anaemia. | |||
[[Category:Haematology]] | [[Category:Haematology]] | ||
[[Category:Internal Medicine (POTE course)]] | [[Category:Internal Medicine (POTE course)]] | ||