ANEMIA

 

Introduction: Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration is lower than normal; it reflects the presence of fewer than the normal number of erythrocytes within the circulation. Erythrocytes  

As a result, the amount of oxygen delivered to body tissues is also diminished. Anemia is not a specific disease state but a sign of an underlying disorder. It is by far the most common hematologic condition. There are several kinds of anemia and, physiologically it can be classified according to whether the deficiency in erythrocytes is caused by a defect in their production a condition known as hypoproliferative anemia, by their destruction a condition known as hemolytic anemia, or by their loss through for example bleeding.

Clinical Manifestations: Aside from the severity of the anemia itself, several factors influence the development of anemia-associated symptoms: the rapidity with which the anemia has developed, the duration of the anemia, the metabolic requirements of the patient, other concurrent disorders or disabilities such as, cardiac or pulmonary disease, and complications or concomitant features of the condition that produced the anemia.

Pronounced symptoms of anemia include the following: 

1) Dyspnea, chest pain, muscle pain or cramping, tachycardia. 

2) Weakness, fatigue, general malaise. 

3) Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes (conjunctivae, oral mucosa). 

4) Jaundice (megaloblastic or hemolytic anemia). 

5) Smooth, red tongue (iron-deficiency anemia) 

6) Beefy, red, sore tongue (megaloblastic anemia) 

7) Angular cheilosis (ulceration of the corner of the mouth). 

8) Brittle, ridged, concave nails and pica (unusual craving for starch, dirt, ice) in patients with iron-deficiency anemia

Assessment and Diagnostic Methods: 1) Complete hematologic studies (eg, hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocyte count, and red blood cell (RBC) indices, particularly the mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and RBC distribution width [RDW]) 

2) Iron studies (serum iron level, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], percent saturation, and ferritin) 

3) Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels; haptoglobin and erythropoietin levels 

4) Bone marrow aspiration 

5) Other studies as indicated to determine underlying illness.

Medical Management: Management of anemia is directed toward correcting or controlling the cause of the anemia; if the anemia is severe, the erythrocytes that are lost or destroyed may be replaced with a transfusion of packed RBCs (PRBCs).

RELATED;

1. BLOOD AND ITS COMPONENTS  

2. THE ABO BLOOD GROUPING  

3.  THE HUMAN RED BLOOD CELLS  

4.  OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS

REFERENCES