Definition of Anemia
“Statein which the level of hemoglobin in the blood is below the reference range
appropriate for age and sex.”
• Normal Hemoglobin in Adult males is 13.5–17.5 g/dL
• Normal Hemoglobin in Adult females is 12–15 g/dL
• WHO: <13 g/dL in men and post menopausal females and <12 g/dL in women
• Hematocrit levels less useful and Previous values are helpful
• Varies with ethnicity and physiological status
Ref : World Health Organization. Nutritional anaemias: Report of a WHO scientific group. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1968
4.
Hemoglobin levels todiagnose anaemia at sea level
World Health Organization. Vol. 405. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1968. Nutritional anaemias..
EPO and Erythron
•Normal : 9-26 mU/mL
• Hgb < 10–12 g/dL, levels increase in
proportion to the severity of anemia
• Half life : 6–9 h
• Binding to specific receptors on the
surface of marrow erythroid
precursors
• RBC production can increase 4x-5x
within a 1- 2-week period in the
presence of adequate nutrients,
especially iron
7.
Criteria for NormalErythropoiesis
• Normal renal production of EPO
• Functioning erythroid marrow
• Adequate supply of substrates for hemoglobin synthesis
• Iron
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Effective maturation of red cell precursors
8.
Symptoms: Due tolack of oxygen delivery
• Tiredness/Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Breathlessness
• Exercise intolerance
• Development/worsening of ischemic symptoms, e.g. angina or claudication or TIA.
• Worsening of heart failure.
• Chronic anemia: Can tolerate low hemoglobin levels due to compensatory mechanisms.
9.
Symptoms: According tocause
• Bleeding in Leukemias.
• Fever, Weight loss, Night sweats in Lymphomas.
• Pica, restless leg syndrome in iron deficiency.
• Neuropathy in B12 deficiency.
10.
History: Determine Causeand Complications
• Age: IDA in Premenopausal, CRC in older adults
• Sex and Ethnicity: Hemoglobinopathy and G6PD deficiency.
• Onset: Acute vs Chronic anemia.
• Underlying medical conditions: Liver or Kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer,
Connective tissue diseases, Chronic inflammatory state
• History of GI surgery and GI conditions: Bleeding, Bowel habits, celiac disease.
• Menstrual history: Menorrhagia, AUB.
11.
History: Determine Causeand Complications
• Medications: NSAIDs, Sulfonamides, Chloramphenicol, anticoagulants, chemotherapy.
• Family history or Congenital: Hemolytic anemia, Thalassemia, G6PD deficiency, CRC.
• Dietary practices: Iron intake, Fava beans, vegetarian diet.
• Recent Infections and travel history: Parasitic infections and malaria.
• Alcohol consumption, exposure to toxins and radiation.
• Hemolysis: Dark urine, Jaundice, Gallstones.
• Malabsorption: Greasy Stools, Nutrient deficiency symptoms.
12.
Examination Findings
• Generalfindings:
• Pallor
• Tachycardia and tachypnea
• Flow murmur
• Findings according to cause:
• Hemolysis: Icterus, splenomegaly, dark urine
• Severe IDA: Angular stomatitis, glossitis, koilonychia, blue sclera
• B12 deficiency: Neurological symptoms
• Sickle cell: Leg ulcers, Stroke, Pulmonary Hypertension
• Abdominal Mass: Carcinoma
• Lymphadenopathy, petechiae: Lymphoma, leukemia
13.
Pallor
• Pallor islooked in natural light.
• In conjunctiva (specifically the anterior rim), the
palmar skin creases and the face in general.
• Nail-bed pallor lacks diagnostic value for
predicting anaemia.
14.
Laboratory tests
• CompleteBlood Count (TLC, Hemoglobin, PCV, RBC)
• RBC Indices: Microcytic vs Macrocytic
• Peripheral blood smear: Other cytopenias, RBC shapes
• Reticulocyte count: Bone marrow functional?
• Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 level
• Serum Urea, Creatinine
• Hemolysis: LDH, Bilirubin, and Haptoglobin
• Coagulation profile
• Iron profile
• Serum Proteins, poly/monoclonal light chains
15.
RBC Indices
• MCV– Average volume (size)
• MCH – Average hemoglobin content
• MCHC – Average hemoglobin per RBC
• RDW: Variation in RBC size (Anisocytosis)
• Low MCH : Hypochromia
• Low MCHC : Iron deficiency anemia
• High MCHC : Spherocytosis
• High RDW : Iron deficiency, Vitamin B12 or
folate deficiency, MDS, hemoglobinopathies,
received transfusions
Ref : Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st
edition
RBC
Index
Normal
Value
Mean cell volume (MCV) =
(hematocrit × 10)/(red cell count × 106
)
90 ± 8 fL
Mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) =
(hemoglobin × 10)/(red cell count × 106
)
30 ± 3 pg
Mean cell hemoglobin concentration =
(hemoglobin × 10)/hematocrit
Or MCH/MCV
33 ± 2%
Red cell Distribution Width =
[standard deviation of MCV/MCV] x 100
11.5-14.5
Microcytosis (MCV <80fL) : Hgb synthesis defect
• Absolute Iron deficiency
• Some cases of ACD/AI due to functional iron deficiency
• Globin defects
• Thalassemia
• Hemoglobin (Hb) C
• Hemoglobin E
• Heme defects
• Congenital sideroblastic anemia
• Lead poisoning
ACD/AI : Anemia of Chronic Disease / Inflammtion
18.
Approach to Microcytosis: Iron profile for all
• Low Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation: IDA
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis if Iron Profile
Normal
• Basophilic stippling
• Beta thalassemia (Abnormal Hgb)
• Lead poisoning (Normal Hgb)
• Sideroblastic anemia
(Bone marrow examination)
Iron
deficiency
Thalassemia ACD
Serum
Iron
↓ Normal
or Increased
Decreased
TIBC Increased Normal
or decreased
Normal
or Decreased
% Iron
Saturation
Decreased
<10%
Normal
or Increased
Decreased
Ferritin Decreased Increased High Normal
to Increased
Macrocytosis (>100 fL)
Asynchronousmaturation of nuclear chromatin
Megaloblastic
Anemia
Membrane
changes
Reticulocytosis
(↑RDW)
Spurious
(Lab artifact)
Vitamin B12 deficiency Excess alcohol Hemolytic anemias ↑Immunoglobulin
↑Acute phase proteins
Small rouleaux that are
counted by electronic
counters as single large
cells.
Folate deficiency Liver disease Recovery from bleeding
Copper deficiency Hypothyroidism Repletion of iron or other
deficient nutrient
Myelodysplastic
syndrome (MDS)
Stomatocytosis Recovery from bone
marrow suppression such as
binge drinking alcohol
Aplastic anemia
Diamond Blackfan
anemia
Drugs that interfere with
DNA synthesis
21.
Approach to macrocyticanemia:Vitamin B12 level for all
• Folate for Malnourished and Gastric Surgery
• MMA level if Vitamin B12 normal
Individuals with normal vitamin B12 and folate
• TSH
• Alcohol use
• Copper level if neutropenia and/or neuropathy, zinc ingestion
• Target cells : Do LFT
• Stomatocytosis
• Dysplasia (Bilobed or immature neutrophils or binucleate RBCs, or other
cytopenias) : Do Bone marrow examination for MDS
22.
Normocytic (80-100 MCV)
Multifactorialand Challenging
• Nutrient deficiency – Early stages of
deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, folate, or
copper
• Combined microcytic plus macrocytic
anemia : Simultaneous deficiency of
vitamin B12 and iron (celiac disease or
autoimmune gastritis).
• Hemolysis without reticulocytosis (due to
concomitant bone marrow suppression )
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ACD/AI
• Anemia of heart failure and cardio-renal
syndrome
• Endocrine deficiency : Hypothyroidism,
Androgen deficiency, or adrenal
insufficiency
• Cancer – Cancer-associated anemia,
including monoclonal gammopathies
• Clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders :
myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia
• Early Blood loss that has not yet caused
iron deficiency
• Pure red cell aplasia
• Partially treated anemia – Iron deficiency
or megaloblastic anemia in process of
correction or following transfusion
Bite Cells inG6PD Deficiency Target Cells in Thalassemia Teardrop Cells in Thalassemia
Spherocytes Elliptocytes Stomatocytes
25.
Anemia as apart of Pancytopenia
• Drug-induced pancytopenia (cytotoxic drugs, anti-infective drugs, anticonvulsants)
• Viral infections : Hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus
• Severe non-viral infection : Clostridial sepsis, malaria, leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, babesiosis
• Bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia), myelodysplasia, myelofibrosis, clonal disorders such
as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and hematologic malignancies
• Hypersplenism – Cirrhosis (Macrocytosis and target cells)
• Deficiency of vitamin B12, copper, folate
• Autoimmune – SLE, CLL
• Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
• Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) : TTP, DIC
26.
Reticulocyte
• Irregular borderand lack of central pallor
• Reflects the rate of RBC production in bone marrow
• Lifespan: 4 days (3 days in marrow + 1 day in blood)
• Normal count is 1% to 2%.
• Reflects daily replacement of 0.8–1.0% of the circulating RBC
• Manual count (supravital dye): Percentage
• Automated (fluorescent dye): Absolute count (million cells/uL)
• Compared with expected reticulocyte response
• Hemoglobin <10 g/dL: RBC production rate increases to 2-3x
normal within 10 days
27.
Reticulocyte count =1-2% =25,000- 100,000/uL
Normally functioning marrow replete with iron, folate, cobalamin, and copper
Normally functioning kidney with erythropoietin
Decreased
• Deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, folate, or copper
• Medications that suppress the bone marrow
• Primary bone marrow disorders : MDS, myelofibrosis, or leukemia
• Very recent bleeding (within five to seven days, before bone marrow compensation)
Increased
• Hemolysis
• Repletion of deficient iron, vitamin B12, folate, or copper (within 1-2 weeks)
• Recovery from bleeding
28.
2 Corrections ofReticulocyte count
• Absolute reticulocyte count (millions of cells/microL)
= Reticulocytes (%) × RBC count (millions of cells/microL)
• Corrected reticulocyte count (%)
= Reticulocytes (%) × (observed patient HCT [percent] ÷ 45 [percent]) or
= Reticulocytes (%) × (observed patient hemoglobin [g/dL] ÷ 15 [g/dL])
• Reticulocyte production index (no units)
= Corrected reticulocyte count (%) ÷ maturation correction factor (days)
Maturation correction (in days): HCT >35%: 1; HCT 26 to 35%: 1.5; HCT 16 to 25%: 2; HCT <15%: 2.5
29.
Functional Classification
• Marrowproduction defect (hypoproliferation)
• Red cell maturation defects (ineffective erythropoiesis)
• Decreased red cell survival (blood loss/hemolysis)
30.
Hypoproliferative Anemias
• LowRPI
• Little or no change in red cell morphology
• Normocytic, normochromic anemia
• Absolute or relative marrow failure (drugs, infiltrative diseases)
• Mild to moderate iron deficiency
• Inadequate EPO stimulation
• Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 1
• Reduced tissue needs for O2; hypothyroidism.
31.
Maturation Disorders
• Ineffectiveerythropoiesis due to destruction of developing erythroblasts in marrow
• Bone marrow examination shows erythroid hyperplasia (M/E ratio <1:1)
• Low reticulocyte production index and Abnormal red cell indices
Nuclear maturation defects (macrocytosis) Cytoplasmic maturation defects (microcytosis and
hypochromia due to hemoglobin synthesis defects)
Vitamin B12 deficiency Severe iron deficiency
Folic acid deficiency
Myelodysplasia can cause both micro and macrocytic anemia with ring sideroblasts
Drugs that interfere with cellular DNA synthesis
(methotrexate or alkylating agents)
Alcohol
32.
Normal bone marrow
M:E= 1:1
Erythroid hyperplasia
M:E > 1:1
(Acute blood loss/hemolysis RPI >3)
Myeloid hyperplasia
M:E >3:1
(Usually after infections)
33.
Blood Loss Anemia
•Acute not associated with an increased reticulocyte production index because of the time
required to increase EPO production and, subsequently, marrow proliferation
• Subacute blood loss : Modest reticulocytosis
• Chronic blood loss presents : Iron deficiency picture
• Recovering state (2–3 weeks) : Hemoglobin concentration rise and the RPI fall
34.
Hemolytic Anemia :Active marrow
• Alloimmune / Autoimmune / Nonimmune based on mechanism
• Intravascular / Extravascular based on site
• RPI ≥2.5 times normal (provided that iron is sufficient) and marrow examination rarely needed
• Stimulated erythropoiesis : Increased numbers of polychromatophilic macrocytes
• Normocytic or slightly macrocytic
35.
Presentation of HemolyticAnemia
• Acute, self-limited episode of intravascular or extravascular hemolysis:
• Autoimmune hemolysis
• Inherited defects of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway or the glutathione reductase
pathway.
• Chronic hemolytic disease : lifelong clinical history typical
• Hereditary spherocytosis : complications like gallstones and splenomegaly
• Aplastic crises if infectious process interrupts red cell production.
• Jaundice, Pigmented gallstones, Splenomegaly
• Leg ulcers : Sickle cell, Hereditary Spherocytosis
Take Home Message
•Always think of multifactorial causes of anemia
• Is anemia isolated or other cell lines affected?
• RBC indices esp. MCV, Peripheral Blood Smear for all
• Iron Profile must for Microcytic anemia
• Vitamin B12 and Folate must for Macrocytic anemia
• RPI must for Normocytic anemia
• Always try to identify the cause and treat
• Individualization based on risk benefit analysis may be necessary
#3 Gaussian distribution, The aging of population, especially in Western countries, causes an increase of anemia in elderly people. In this population, anemia, recently defined by levels of Hb <12 g/dL in both sexes, is mostly of mild degree (10-12 g/dL).
#5 Some EPO by liver, EPO for maintenance of committed erythroid progenitor cells that, in the absence apoptosis, Following lineage commitment, hematopoietic progenitor and precursor cells come increasingly under the regulatory influence of growth factors and hormones. In the bone marrow, the first morphologically recognizable erythroid precursor is the pronormoblast. This cell can undergo four to five cell divisions, which result in the production of 16–32 mature red cells. Role of typical shape of RBC, membrane integrity by ATP, 1% of all rbc replaced daily,
#6 The organ responsible for red cell production is called the erythron. The erythron is a dynamic organ made up of a rapidly proliferating pool of marrow erythroid precursor cells and a large mass of mature circulating red blood cells.
In the presence of O2, HIF-1α is hydroxylated at a key proline, allowing HIF-1α to be ubiquitinated and degraded via the proteasome pathway. If O2 becomes limiting, this critical hydroxylation step does not occur, allowing HIF-1α to partner with other proteins, translocate to the nucleus, and upregulate the expression of the EPO gene, among others.
#10 Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and certain hemoglobinopathies are seen more commonly in those of Middle Eastern or African origin, including blacks who have a high frequency of G6PD deficiency
#11 Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and certain hemoglobinopathies are seen more commonly in those of Middle Eastern or African origin, including blacks who have a high frequency of G6PD deficiency
#12 pale if the hemoglobin is <8–10 g/dL, vessels are close to the surface such as the mucous membranes, nail beds, and palmar creases. <8 g/dL in palmar crease
#13 Pale if the hemoglobin is <8–10 g/dL, vessels are close to the surface such as the mucous membranes, nail beds, and palmar creases. <8 g/dL in palmar crease
#14 tests more needed in critically ill, tests can be decreased in typical cases. Obtaining the studies after an overnight fast may be useful as it avoids interference by dietary iron or iron-containing vitamins, which can increase the serum iron and calculated TSAT
#15 MCH : Not Useful, tends to track with MCV, Central pallor > one-third of the RBC diameter, RDW : Iron deficiency vs Thalassemia, A finding of high RBC count in an individual with anemia suggests thalassemia
#17 but not Hb S
Mentzer index : MCV/RBC count <13, Thalassemia > IDA
While in the marrow compartment, red cell precursors undergo cell division, driven by erythropoietin.
If red cells cannot acquire haemoglobin at a normal rate, they will undergo more divisions than normal and will have a low MCV when finally released into the blood.
The MCV is low because component parts of the haemoglobin molecule are not fully available.
#18 Serum iron concentration is not a reliable indicator of iron stores because it can be increased acutely by recent transfusion (due to iron release from damaged RBCs in the transfused product) .
Ferritin: 10-15 ug/L : depletion of iron store, >200 ug/L means iron is in strore
Iron has diurnal variation
TSAT : Iron/TIBC x 100 : 25-50%
TIBC : 54–64 μmol/L
ferritin 100 μg/L = Iron stores of 1 g
#20 Megaloblastic anemia – Asynchronous nuclear maturation (megaloblastosis)
In megaloblastic anaemia, the biochemical consequence of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency is an inability to synthesise new bases to make DNA. A similar defect of cell division is seen in the presence of cytotoxic drugs or haematological disease in the marrow, such as myelodysplasia. In these states, cells haemoglobinise normally but undergo fewer cell divisions, resulting in circulating red cells with a raised MCV. Conditions such as liver disease, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidaemia and pregnancy are associated with raised lipids and may also cause a raised MCV.
#21 MCV typically is not >105 fL in alcohol-induced macrocytosis
Conditions such as liver disease, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidaemia and pregnancy are associated with raised lipids and may also cause a raised MCV.
#22 NN Aemia has slightly increased RDW and retix is not substantially increased or even decreased. Normocytic is common in hypothyroidism than microcytic. In adrenal insufficiency, anemia may be masked by volume contraction. Dimorphic RBC in Partially treated anemia and sideroblastic anemia
#23 Polychromasia : Slightly larger than normal and grayish blue in color on the Wright-Giemsa stain. These cells are reticulocytes that have been released prematurely from the bone marrow and their color represents residual amounts of ribosomal RNA. These cells appear in circulation in response to EPO stimulation or to architectural damage of the bone marrow (fibrosis, infiltration of the marrow by malignant cells, etc.) that results in their disordered release from the marrow.
#25 Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) may be primary (typically in children) or secondary to an infection, malignancy, or rheumatologic condition; TTP : MAHA+TCP+Schistocytes
#26 Staining with a supravital dye that precipitates the ribosomal RNA. Why RPI?
#27 If both bone marrow suppression and hemolysis or blood loss are present, the reticulocyte count will be inappropriately low.
If the reticulocyte count does not increase with correction of a deficiency, this suggests an additional cause of anemia is interfering with bone marrow function.
#28 WHY RPI?
First correction adjusts the reticulocyte count based on the reduced number of circulating red cells.
With anemia, the percentage of reticulocytes may be increased while the absolute number is unchanged. To convert
the corrected reticulocyte count to an index of marrow production, a further correction is required, depending on whether some of the reticulocytes in circulation have been released from the marrow prematurely. For this second correction, the peripheral blood smear is examined to see if there are polychromatophilic macrocytes present and not done if polychromatophils not present. RPI provides an estimate of marrow production relative to normal
#31 Iron deficiency occupies an unusual position in the classification of anemia. If the anemia is severe and prolonged, the erythroid marrow will become hyperplastic despite the inadequate iron supply, and the anemia will be classified as ineffective erythropoiesis with a cytoplasmic maturation defect.
#32 A patient with a hypoproliferative anemia and a reticulocyte production index <2 will demonstrate an M/E ratio of 2 or 3:1
Maturation disorders are identified from the discrepancy between the M/E ratio and the reticulocyte production index
#34 Among the least common forms of anemia. Alloimmune : Blood group mismatch
Extravascular hemolysis : Recycling of iron from the destroyed red cells support red cell production.
Intravascular hemolysis, such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, the loss of iron may limit the marrow response.
#40 Schistocyte due to Mechanical destruction of RBC
#42 Hemorrhagic anemia does not typically result in production indices of more than 2.0–2.5 times normal because of the limitations placed on expansion of the erythroid marrow by iron availability