This document discusses red blood cell disorders and anemia. It provides a pathogenetic classification of anemia including decreased production from nutrient deficiencies like iron deficiency or megaloblastic anemia, or hemopoietic cell defects like aplastic anemia. It also discusses increased loss or destruction from blood loss, hemolytic anemia, or congenital red blood cell defects. The top six anemias are also listed and described. Key aspects of iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and aplastic anemia are summarized. Learning objectives focus on understanding the major anemias like iron deficiency, megaloblastic, immune hemolytic, and anemia of chronic disease.

1. “No doubt knowledge is valuable,
but above it is Character”
Knowledge without character is dangerous!

2. ….. foundation of clinical medicine
Shashidhar Venkatesh Murthy
A/Prof & Head of Pathology
College of Medicine & Dentistry
Clinical Pathology:
RBC Disorders: Deficiency Anemia

3. Pathogenetic Classification of Anemia:
 Decreased Production:
 Nutrient Deficiency.
 Iron def (IDA) / Megaloblastic (MBA)
 Hemopoietic cell defect:
 Anemia of chronic disorders (ACD)
 Aplastic anemia (AA).
 Dysplastic anemia. Myelodysplastic Syndromes
 Increased loss / destruction:
 Blood loss anemia – Acute / Chronic - bleeding.
 Hemolytic anemia – Congenital / Acquired.
 Acquired / External injury.
 Immune AIHA (Warm/Cold) Mechanical, Drugs & Parasites
 Congenital / Internal RBC defect
 Defective Membrane (Spherocytic an)
 Defective Hemoglobin (Sickle cell an.)
 Deficient Enzyme (G6PD)
3
2
Top 6 Anemias:
1. Iron Def. A
2. Megaloblastic
3. Anem. Of Chronic Dis.
4. Aplastic An.
5. Immune Hemolytic – Warm
6. Immune Hemolytic - Cold2

4. Proerythroblast
(Pronormoblast)
Basophilic
Normoblast
Polychromatophilic
Normoblast
Orthochromatophilic
Normoblast
Reticulocyte
Erythrocyte
BLAST Early Intermediate Late  Retic.  RBC
Anemia Pathogenesis:
4
DNA: B12, Folate
B12/Folate Metabolism:
R Binders, Stomach, IF, Colon,
Methionine, Homocysteine – DNA
synthesis – cell division.
Megaloblastic anemia
Hb: Iron Iron Metabolism: “limited”,10%,
Recycle, Ferritin, Transferrin,
Hepcidin, forms Hb in cytoplasm.
Iron Deficiency anemia
Hemolytic anemia
Immune
Mech.
Infection
Aplastic anemia
Dysplastic anemia

5. Our destiny is in our hands,
What we think and do in the present
determines what shall happen to us in the
future.
-- Christian D. Larson

6. Iron Deficiency - Megaloblastic
6
 Causes:
 Bleeding, Nutrition,
Increased needs.
 Pathogenesis:
  Iron - Hb - MCV
 Morphology:
 Microcytic, Hypochromic
 Pencil cells.
 Clinical Features:
 glossitis, chelitis, stomatitis.
 koilonychia, dysphagia
 Causes:
• Nutrition, gastritis, intestinal
disorders, Cancer therapy.
 Pathogenesis:
•  DNA  Cells - all cells.
 Morphology:
• Macrocytic, Normochromic
• Pancytopenia*
 Clinical Features:
• glossitis, chelitis, stomatitis.
• Mild Jaundice & Bruising

7. Microcytic Anemia (IDA)
7
Normal

8. Iron Deficiency Anemia:
8
1.Microcytic, Hypochromic – excess cell division, low Hb.
2.Anisopoikilocytosis. – varying supply, abnormal hemopoiesis.
3.Pencil forms. - ? cause
L

9. Macrocytic Anemia (Meg.):
9
Normal
H
N

10. Megaloblastic Anemia:
10
1. Oval Macrocytes, Pancytopenia:  cell division.
2. Anisopoikilocytosis: Hemolysis.
3. Hypersegmented neutrophils: Large cells / Megaloblasts
(in bone marrow).
Megaloblastic Bone Marrow Normal
Hypersegmented
Neutrophils
Macrocyte
Megaloblast

11. Pernicious Anemia: Vit B12
 Autoimmune atrophic gastritis in aged.
 IF & Parietal cell antibody (Type I,II,III)
 Reduced Tetra-hydrofolate (FH4)
 Decreased DNA synthesis.
 Other causes of Vit B12 def. (not pernicious)
 Gastrectomy
 Achlorhydria
 Chronic Pancreatitis
 Ileal resection
 Mal absorption syndromes.
 Tapeworm infestation
 Malignancy, pregnancy, hyperthyroidism etc.
 Clinical:
 MBA+ neurological deficits (spinal dorsal tract)
Loss of proprioception.
B12 Animal/bacteria
Folate Green Veg

12. Nothing can stop the man with the right
mental attitude from achieving his goal;
nothing on earth can help the man with the
wrong mental attitude!
-- Thomas Jefferson

13. Haemopoiesis in deficiency anemias
13
Macrocytic, pancytopeniaMicrocytic hypochromic
Iron Deficiency Normal Megaloblastic

14. Anemia of Chronic Disease:
 Etiology:
 Chronic Infections,
inflammations, malignancy
&
anemia of renal disease*.
 Pathogenesis:
 IFN, TNF, IL block iron
transfer from macrophage
store to RBC.
  Erythropoietin*.
 Morphology:
 Mild Microcytic,
Hypochromic.
 Clinical Features:
 Mild anemia, resistant to
iron therapy.

15. Aplastic Anemia: BM Failure
15
Dysplasia Normal BM Aplasia
Clinical Features:
1. RBC - Anemia,
2.  WBC - Infections
3.  PLT - Bleeding
Stem cell damage
• Drugs, Immune
• Viral Infections.
Stem Cell Cancer:
Myelodysplastic Sy.
Leukemia
Normocytic Pancytopenia

16. Learning Objectives: Diseases of RBC
 Anaemia: Overview, Classification, pathogenesis,
diagnosis, clinical features & complications. - common
Study TOP 10 ANEMIA
Major (detailed)
1. Iron Deficiency anemia.
2. Megaloblastic anemia.
3. Imm. Hemolytic (Warm/Cold)
4. Anemia of Chronic Disease.
5. Aplastic Anemia
Minor (brief note)
1. Myelodysplastic Syndrome
2. Sickle Cell Anemia
3. Thalassemia syndromes.
4. G6PD deficiency anemia.
5. Hereditary Spherocytosis.