Ch5 - 7) Anemia due to Underproduction Flashcards
What is anemia due to underproduction?
Decreased production of RBCs by bone marrow; characterized by low corrected reticulocyte count
What are the etiologies for anemia due to underproduction?
1) Causes of microcytic and macrocytic anemia 2) Renal failure 3) Damage to bone marrow precursor cells (may result in anemia or pancytopenia)
What is pancytopenia?
Medical condition in which there is a reduction in the number of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets
How does renal failure lead to anemia due to underproduction?
Decreased production of EPO by peritubular interstitial cells
What is parvovirus B19?
Infects progenitor red cells and temporarily halts erythropoiesis; leads to significant anemia in the setting of preexisting marrow stress e.g. sickle cell anemia
What is aplastic anemia?
Damage to hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in pancytopenia (anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia) with low reticulocyte count
What are the etiologies for pancytopenia?
Etiologies include drugs or chemicals, viral infections, and autoimmune damage.
In aplastic anemia, what does biopsy reveal?
Reveals an empty, fatty marrow
What does treatment of aplastic anemia include?
Includes the cessation of any causative drugs and supportive care with transfusions and marrow-stimulating factors (e.g., erythropoietin, GM-CSE, and G-CSE).
Aside from cessation of causative drugs what may be helpful in the treatment of apalstic anemia?
Immunosuppression may be helpful as some idiopathic cases are due to abnormal T-cell activation with release of cytokines.
What may be helpful in the treatment of aplastic anemia as a last resort?
bone marrow transplantation as a last resort
What is a myelophthisic process?
Pathologic process (e.g., metastatic cancer) that replaces bone marrow; hematopoiesis is impaired, resulting in pancytopenia
