Anemia

Anemia

• A deficiency in
  • Number of erythrocytes (RBCs)
  • Quantity of hemoglobin
  • Volume of packed RBCs (hematocrit)
• RBC function
  • Transport oxygen (O2) from lungs to systemic tissues
  • Carry carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs
• Not a specific disease
• Manifestation of a pathologic process
• Diagnosed based on
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Reticulocyte count
  • Peripheral blood smear

Cause of anemia

• Decreased RBC production
  • Deficient nutrients
    • Iron
    • Cobalamin
    • Folic acid
  • Decreased erythropoietin
  • Decreased iron availability
• Blood loss
  • Chronic
    • Bleeding duodenal ulcer
    • Colorectal cancer
    • Liver disease
  • Acute
    • Acute trauma
    • Ruptured aortic aneurysm
    • GI bleeding
• Increased RBC destruction
  • Hemolysis
    • Abnormal hemoglobin (Sickle cell disease)
    • Medication (e.g., methyldopa [Aldomet]) and chemicals (e.g., chemotherapy, lead)
    • Incompatible blood
      • Antibodies against RBCs
    • Physical destruction
      • Prosthetic heart valves
      • Extracorporeal circulation
      • Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC)
      • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
    • Trauma (e.g., cardiopulmonary bypass)
    • Infectious agents (e.g., malaria) and toxins
    • Radiation