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NR 507 Edapt Unit 2 Hematological
Disorders
what are four clinical characteristics of anemia?
tachycardia (due to hypoxemia), pallor, dyspnea, and fatigue
which RBC indices measures the average size of red blood cells?
mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
anemia can be caused by ______, ______, and ______.
excessive blood loss, impaired RBC production, and increased RBC destruction
which anemia is considered a microcytic anemia?
iron-deficiency anemia
definition of anemia
Anemia is a hematological disorder characterized by a reduction in the total
number of circulating red blood cells (RBCs) and/or a decrease in hemoglobin (Hb)
amount or function.
Complete blood count (CBC) components that relate to RBCs and their production
microcytic anemia
MCV<80 fL
- RBCs are small
- iron-deficiency anemia
- sideroblastic anemia
- thalassemia
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- anemia of chronic disease
normocytic anemia
MCV 80-99 fL
- RBCs are normal in size
- anemia of inflammation and chronic disease
- hereditary spherocytosis
- G6PD deficiency
- paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
macrocytic anemia
MCV > 100 fL
- RBCs are large
- B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia)
- folate deficiency
hypochromic anemia
low MCHC
- RBCs have less hemoglobin than normal
- RBCs appear pale in color
normochromic
normal MCHC
- RBCs have a normal amount of hemoglobin
- RBCs appear neither pale nor dark
hyperchromic
high MCHC
- RBCs have more hemoglobin than normal
- RBCs appear a deeper hue of red than normal
clinical manifestations of anemia
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- severe fatigue
- pallor
- weakness
- dyspnea
- dizziness
Furthermore, the reduction in RBC level will decrease blood volume, activating
the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system, which promotes fluid retention
and movement of interstitial fluid into the capillaries. This will not only increase
plasma volume, but also dilute the plasma further. The dilute blood flows faster,
which creates a hyperdynamic state. This "stresses" the cardiac system and can
result in tachycardia or even heart failure.
the terms normocytic, microcytic, and macrocytic characterizes red blood cells by
their _______.
size
Terms that end with "-cytic" refer to cell size.
what symptoms reflect decreased tissue oxygenation as an effect of anemia?
weakness, hypertension, fever, dizziness, and dyspnea
true or false:
identification of the type of anemia involves an exemption of size of the red blood
cell only.
false
Determining both the size and color of RBCs is an important step in identifying the
type and source of anemia.
which anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia?
vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia)
which lab value indicates the patient's iron stores are depleted?
ferritin level
A low ferritin level indicates that the patient's iron stores are depleted.
which anemias can be categorized as microcytic-hypochromic?
NR 507 Edapt Unit 2 Hematological
Disorders
what are four clinical characteristics of anemia?
tachycardia (due to hypoxemia), pallor, dyspnea, and fatigue
which RBC indices measures the average size of red blood cells?
mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
anemia can be caused by ______, ______, and ______.
excessive blood loss, impaired RBC production, and increased RBC destruction
which anemia is considered a microcytic anemia?
iron-deficiency anemia
definition of anemia
Anemia is a hematological disorder characterized by a reduction in the total
number of circulating red blood cells (RBCs) and/or a decrease in hemoglobin (Hb)
amount or function.
Complete blood count (CBC) components that relate to RBCs and their production
microcytic anemia
MCV<80 fL
- RBCs are small
- iron-deficiency anemia
- sideroblastic anemia
- thalassemia
, Page |2
- anemia of chronic disease
normocytic anemia
MCV 80-99 fL
- RBCs are normal in size
- anemia of inflammation and chronic disease
- hereditary spherocytosis
- G6PD deficiency
- paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
macrocytic anemia
MCV > 100 fL
- RBCs are large
- B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia)
- folate deficiency
hypochromic anemia
low MCHC
- RBCs have less hemoglobin than normal
- RBCs appear pale in color
normochromic
normal MCHC
- RBCs have a normal amount of hemoglobin
- RBCs appear neither pale nor dark
hyperchromic
high MCHC
- RBCs have more hemoglobin than normal
- RBCs appear a deeper hue of red than normal
clinical manifestations of anemia
, Page |3
- severe fatigue
- pallor
- weakness
- dyspnea
- dizziness
Furthermore, the reduction in RBC level will decrease blood volume, activating
the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system, which promotes fluid retention
and movement of interstitial fluid into the capillaries. This will not only increase
plasma volume, but also dilute the plasma further. The dilute blood flows faster,
which creates a hyperdynamic state. This "stresses" the cardiac system and can
result in tachycardia or even heart failure.
the terms normocytic, microcytic, and macrocytic characterizes red blood cells by
their _______.
size
Terms that end with "-cytic" refer to cell size.
what symptoms reflect decreased tissue oxygenation as an effect of anemia?
weakness, hypertension, fever, dizziness, and dyspnea
true or false:
identification of the type of anemia involves an exemption of size of the red blood
cell only.
false
Determining both the size and color of RBCs is an important step in identifying the
type and source of anemia.
which anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia?
vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia)
which lab value indicates the patient's iron stores are depleted?
ferritin level
A low ferritin level indicates that the patient's iron stores are depleted.
which anemias can be categorized as microcytic-hypochromic?
