Components of a CBC
How do we check Hemoglobin?
Normal Hemoglobin Range for Men
14-18 mg/dL
Normal Hemoglobin Range for Women
12-16 mg/dL
What is the “Hematocrit”?
Relative volume of blood occupied by erythrocytes.
Normal Hematocrit Levels
41-52%
What is the normal Hemoglobin/Hematocrit Ratio?
1:3
How much should a hematocrit rise after one unit of blood is transfused?
3 points
DDx for Anemia
How do you evaluate a patient with suspected anemia?
If someone has been chronically anemic and is of Mediterranean descent and has an MCV of 60, what disease process should you be thinking of?
Thalassemia
Three potential CAUSES of anemia
What can be a Decreased Production cause of Anemia?
Examples:
What can be a Increased Destruction cause of Anemia?
2. Acquired Hemolytic Anemia
Examples of Acquired Hemolytic Anemia
Examples of Inherited Hemolytic Anemia
This is a condition where RBS are like little spheres instead of biconcave discs and therefore do not go through the vessels well that can cause rupture.
Hereditary Spherocytosis
What can cause Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura-Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (TTP/HUS)?
Antibiotics and some Viral Illnesses
Most common cause of Anemia?
Blood Loss
What can be a Blood Loss cause of Anemia?
Examples of Traumatic or Apparent Bleeding
Examples of Occult Bleeding
- Carcinoma
Examples of Iatrogenic Cause of Bleeding
What is MCV?
Mean Corpuscular Volume
An indicator of how big the RBC is (macrocytic vs. normocytic vs. microcytic)