Anaemia

Impaired Red Blood Cell (RBC) Production

  • In adequate supply of nutrients essential for erythropoiesis
    • Iron Deficiency
    • Vitamin B12 Deficiency
    • Folic Acid Deficiency
    • Protein
  • Depression of erythropoietic activity
    • Anaemia of Chronic Disorders
    • Anaemia of Renal Failure
    • Aplastic Anaemia
    • Anaemia Due to Replacement of Normal Bone Marrow (BM)
        Leukaemia/Lymphoma
        Myeloma
        Carcinoma
        Myeloproliferative Disorders
  • Inherited Disorders
      Thalassaemia

Failure of Cell Maturation

Iron

  • Trace element found widely in the body
    • Compounds that serve as storage forms for iron
    • Compound that serve in metabolic or enzymatic functions
  • In an average 70kg man, the haemoglobin is distributed as follows: 65% in Hb; 4% in Mb (Methaemoglobin); 0.08% Cytochrome C; 0.15% Transferrin; 30% Ferritin (tissue)
  • The average total iron concentration in the body is 2-4g (1g iron per kg RBCs)
  • Total daily male requirement approx. 1mg/day (menstruation female approx 2mg/day; pregnant female approx. 3-4mg/day)
  • A woman stores approx. half as much iron as a man
  • Only small amounts of iron are used - once in Hb, it remains there until RBC degradation
  • A very small amount of iron is left in the epithelial cells, some is lost in the urine and some is stuck in the gut
  • Iron is recycled as macrophages take RBCs out of the system - principally in the:
      Liver Spleen Bone Marrow
  • Porphyrins break down in the circulation to give bilirubin
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