Erythropoietin
synthesized in peritubular capillaries
Reticulocyte count
measure of effective erythropoiesis; correct for degree of anemia
Extramedullary hematopoiesis
Hematopoiessi outside bone marrow (e.g. spleen)
Newborn physiologic anemia
drop in Hb due to replacement of HbF RBCs with HbA
Pregnancy
Hb and Hct decreased
greater increase in plasma volume than RBC mass
Anemia
normal oxygen saturation and arterial PO2
MCV
average VOLUME of RBCs; useful for anemia classification
MCHC
average Hb concentration in RBCs
When is MCHC decreased? When is MCHC increased?
MCHC
Thalassemias
- increased in RBC count
RDW
RBC size variation
Mature RBC
anaerobic glycolysis; no mitochondria or HLA antigens
Total iron binding capacity is increased
Total binding capacity is DECREASED
in anemia of chronic disease OR sideroblastic anemia
% Saturation
% Saturation is increased
sideroblastic anemia
Serum ferritin is decreased
Serum ferritin is INCREASED
anemia of chronic disease, sideroblastic anemia, normal thalassemia
Microcytic anemia
Most common cause of iron defieicny in a child
Meckel’s diverticulum
Iron deficiency in women < 50
Menorrhagia (heavy bleeding during menses)
Iron deficiency man < 50
Most common cause is peptic ulcer disease
Iron deficiency in men/women > 50
Colon cancer
Stages of iron deficiency
- increased TIBC, normocytic then microcytic anemia