Haemolytic Anaemia Types and Causes

Questions and Answers

Inadequate dietary protein intake

Premature destruction of red blood cells (correct)

Vitamin deficiency

Iron deficiency

Malaria

Sickle cell anaemia (correct)

Mechanical trauma

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Bone marrow examination

Coombs test

Reticulocyte count

Schilling test (correct)

Cold hands and feet Signup and view all the answers

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia Signup and view all the answers

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Shortness of breath Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition: Anaemia caused by the premature destruction of red blood cells
Types:
- Intrinsic: defects in red blood cell production (e.g. sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia)
- Extrinsic: destruction of normal red blood cells (e.g. autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, mechanical trauma)
Causes:
- Genetic defects (e.g. G6PD deficiency)
- Infections (e.g. malaria, babesiosis)
- Autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Medications (e.g. penicillin, quinine)
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Pale skin
Diagnosis:
- Blood tests (e.g. reticulocyte count, bilirubin level)
- Bone marrow examination
- Coombs test (for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia)

Definition: Anaemia caused by a lack of essential vitamins necessary for red blood cell production
Types:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)
- Folate deficiency
Causes:
- Poor diet
- Malabsorption (e.g. celiac disease, Crohn's disease)
- Increased demand (e.g. pregnancy, cancer)
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Headaches
Diagnosis:
- Blood tests (e.g. vitamin B12 level, folate level)
- Bone marrow examination
- Schilling test (for vitamin B12 deficiency)

Definition: Anaemia caused by a lack of iron necessary for haemoglobin production
Causes:
- Inadequate dietary iron intake
- Increased iron demand (e.g. pregnancy, menstrual bleeding)
- Chronic blood loss (e.g. ulcer, cancer)
- Malabsorption (e.g. celiac disease, gastric bypass surgery)
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
- Headaches
- Cold hands and feet
Diagnosis:
- Blood tests (e.g. haemoglobin level, iron level, ferritin level)
- Bone marrow examination

Premature destruction of red blood cells causes anaemia
Intrinsic defects: sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia
Extrinsic destruction: autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, mechanical trauma
Genetic defects: G6PD deficiency
Infections: malaria, babesiosis
Autoimmune disorders: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
Medications: penicillin, quinine
Symptoms: fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, pale skin
Diagnosis: reticulocyte count, bilirubin level, bone marrow examination, Coombs test

Lack of essential vitamins necessary for red blood cell production causes anaemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency: pernicious anaemia
Folate deficiency
Causes: poor diet, malabsorption, increased demand
Symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches
Diagnosis: vitamin B12 level, folate level, bone marrow examination, Schilling test

Lack of iron necessary for haemoglobin production causes anaemia
Inadequate dietary iron intake
Increased iron demand: pregnancy, menstrual bleeding
Chronic blood loss: ulcer, cancer
Malabsorption: celiac disease, gastric bypass surgery
Symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches, cold hands and feet
Diagnosis: haemoglobin level, iron level, ferritin level, bone marrow examination