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Laboratory Approach to Anemia

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Added on  2020-05-16

Laboratory Approach to Anemia

   Added on 2020-05-16

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Running head: BIOLOGY1Biology: Anemia Name of student:Name of university:Author note:
Laboratory Approach to Anemia_1
2BIOLOGY1.Anemia is the decrease in the total amount of red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood.Anemia is divided into three classes according to the morphology of RBC- Normocytic,microcytic and macrocytic. In case of normocytic anaemia, the cell size and volume arenormal, and the mean cell volume (MCV) is 80-100 fl. The cells are flexible, biconcave, non-nucleated and discoid shaped. In case of microcytic anaemia, the cells are of smaller diameterand volume and round or oval with MCV< 70 fl. The shape of the cells are flexible biconcaveand discoid. In case of macrocytic anaemia, the cells are of a larger volume with MCV>100fl. They are the discoid shape and complete, mature cells with haemoglobin (Buttaro et al.,2008). 2.Some of the microcytic anaemia conditions are an iron deficiency and thalassemia. Incase of iron deficiency anaemia, the condition is due to insufficient iron in the body, leadingto extreme fatigue and weakness. In case of thalassemia, there is abnormal haemoglobinproduction leading to an enlarged spleen and increased chance of infections. Diagnosis ofiron deficiency anaemia is done by evaluation of the iron metabolism such as total serum ironbinding capacity and serum iron. Thalassemia is diagnosed by HbA2 levels (>3.5). In case ofiron deficiency anemia, the RBC count is low while thalassemia the RBC is normal (Buttaroet al., 2008). 3.Some of the macrocytic anaemia conditions are vitamin B12 deficiency and folic aciddeficiency. In vitamin B12 deficiency, the body lacks the essential vitamin that causesdamage to the nerves and affects memory. Folic acid deficiency causes decrease in RBC as
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3BIOLOGYfolate is required for formation and growth of RBC. The difference between the two can bedone through an assessment of both homocysteine blood and methylmalonic acid levels. Ifonly homocystiene level is high then there is folate deficiency and an elevated level of bothof them indicates deficiency of vitamin B12 (Buttaro et al., 2008). 4. Some of the normocytic anemia conditions are spherocytosis and elliptocytosis. Incase of spherocytosis the patient suffers intrasplenic hemolysis. In case of elliptocytosis, thereis an injury to intrasplenic hemolysis accompanied by splenomegaly. Peripheral blood smear,RBC RBC autohemolysis assay, fragility assay, and direct antiglobulin test are done fordetecting the two conditions. In case of spherocytosis, RBCs have resemblance withmicrospherocytes and MCV is normal. In case of elliptocytosis, RBCs are cigar-shaped, anddiagnosis is made by the presence of at least 60% elliptocytes (Sherwood, 2015). 5.Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells that are produced by bone marrow. Thereticulocyte count is done for estimating the degree of normal erythropoiesis and is reportedas absolute reticulocyte count or as a reticulocyte percentage. In case the patient is sufferingfrom anaemia, the reticulocyte percentage is high. In case the reticulocyte is increased, itreflects a recent or ongoing RBC production. The following are the causes of increasedreticulocytes-Post bleeding such as menorrhagia and trauma, post hemolysis such ashemolytic disease of the newborn and haemolytic anaemia, and response to therapies such asvitamin B-12 supplementation and iron supplementation. The following are the causes ofdecreased reticulocytes- post radiation therapy, bone marrow failure syndromes anddecreased erythropoietin level (Buttaro et al., 2008).
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