Anemia Types and Causes

Which of the following is not a cause of vitamin B12 deficiency?

What is the primary function of intrinsic factor in vitamin B12 absorption?

What is a characteristic feature of megaloblastic anemia in a peripheral blood smear?

Which of the following is a neurological symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency?

What is the approximate duration that vitamin B12 stores in the liver can sustain an individual?

What is the typical dietary source of vitamin B12?

What type of anemia can occur in the setting of chronic infection or cancer?

What is the result of inflammatory cytokine release on erythropoiesis?

What is the characteristic of the anemia seen in Anemia of Chronic Disease?

What is the primary cause of Aplastic Anemia in most cases?

What is the characteristic laboratory finding in Aplastic Anemia?

What is the primary treatment for Aplastic Anemia?

What is a potential complication of Aplastic Anemia?

What is a common symptom of Aplastic Anemia?

Anemia of Chronic Disease

Occurs in the setting of chronic infection, cancer, inflammation, or trauma
Release of inflammatory cytokines suppresses erythropoiesis
Laboratory findings: low serum iron, low TIBC, and low serum transferrin levels; serum ferritin levels are increased
Anemia is usually normocytic and normochromic, but may be microcytic and hypochromic as well
No specific treatment is necessary other than treating the underlying process; do not give iron

Aplastic Anemia

Bone marrow failure leading to pancytopenia (anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia)
Causes: idiopathic, radiation exposure, medications, viral infection, chemicals
Clinical features: symptoms of anemia, signs and symptoms of thrombocytopenia, increased incidence of infections
Diagnosis: normocytic, normochromic anemia; bone marrow biopsy reveals hypocellular marrow and absence of progenitors of all three hematopoietic cell lines
Treatment: bone marrow transplantation, transfusion of PRBCs and platelets, treating underlying causes

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and methylmalonyl CoA to succinyl CoA
Vitamin B12 stores in the liver can sustain an individual for 3 or more years
Main dietary sources of vitamin B12 are meat and fish
Causes: pernicious anemia, gastrectomy, poor diet, Crohn's disease, ileal resection, and certain organisms competing for vitamin B12
Clinical features: anemia, sore tongue, neuropathy
Diagnosis: peripheral blood smear shows megaloblastic anemia and hypersegmented neutrophils; serum vitamin B12 level is low

Learn about different types of anemia, including normocytic, macrocytic, and hemolytic anemia, and understand their causes, such as chronic disease, infection, and inflammation.