Unit 6: Polycythemia vs. Anemia (Cram)

Polycythemia is the increase of what two blood componants?

1. Circulating erythrocytes

2. Hemoglobin concentration and/or PCV

What are the two types of polycythemia?

1. Relative

2. Absolute

Which is the most common type of poycythemia?

Relative

Does the actual number of RBC increase with relative and absolute polycythemia resepctively?

Relative – No

Absolute – Yes

What are the two causes for relative polycythemia?

1. Hemoconcentration

2. Splenic contraction

What is hemoconcentration?

Dehydration

Is the PCV increased with relative polycythemia caused by hemoconcentration?

Yes

Is the PCV increased with relative polycythemia caused by splenic concentration?

Yes

Is the RBC count increased with relative polycythemia caused by hemoconcentration?

Yes

Is the RBC count increased with relative polycythemia caused by splenic contraction?

Yes

Is the total protein increased with relative polycythemia caused by hemoconcentration?

Yes

Is the total protein increased with relative polycythemia caused by splenic contraction?

No, it is normal

What causes splenic contraction?

Excitement

What are the two ways absolute polycythemia is classified?

1. Primary

2. Secondary

What is primary absolute polycythemia also called?

Polycythemia vera

True or false: Polycythemia vera is a common myeloproliferative disorder

False. It is a rare myeloproliferative disorder

Does polycythemia vera involve erythropoietin?

No

Does secondary absolute polycythemia involve erythropoietin?

Yes. The production is increased in response to hypoxia of tissues

What are some of the possible causes of secondary absolute polycythemia? These are reducing the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen

Pneumonia, heart disease, decreased hemoglobin (iron deficiency), kidney disease

Anemia is a decrease of the number of what two blood componants?

1. Circulating erythrocytes

2. Hemoglobin concentration and/or PCV

Is anemia a symptom or a disease?

Symptom

What are the two ways anemia is classified?

1. RBC morphology

2. Bone marrow response

What are the two ways anemia is classified according to bone marrow response?

1. Regenerative (bone marrow response)

2. Nonregenerative (no bone marrow response)

What are the two classifications of regenerative anemia?

1. Hemorrhagic

2. Hemolytic

Type of hemorrhage where about 20% of blood volume is lost in a short period of time

Acute hemorrhage

How many hours since the hemorrhagic episode do Hgb, PCV, TP, and RBC count values change?

24 hours

How many hours since the hemorrhagic episode are polychromasia and reticulocytes seen?

72 hours

How many days after the hemorrhagic episode is the peak regenerative response?

5–6 days

At 1–3 weeks after the hemorrhagic episode will the Hgb, PCV, TP, and RBC count values still be abnormal?

No, they will be back to normal

Type of hemorrhage where blood is lost over an extended period of time

Chronic blood loss

Does hypovolemia occur with chronic blood loss?

No, the body compensates by increasing plasma

Which type of blood loss can have a lower PCV value before the onset of clinical signs, acute hemorrhage or chronic blood loss?

Chronic blood loss

Which test is used to diagnose immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA)?

Coombs test

What are the two RBC morphology changes that indicate an immune mediate hemolytic anemia?

1. Spherocytes

2. Agglutination

Which demographic of dog is IMHA most common?

Female middle aged dogs

Which type of anemia is seen most commonly in foals about 8hrs to 1wk old?

Isoimmune hemolytic anemia (aka neonatal isoerythrolysis)

In immune mediated hemolytic anemia the animal's antibodies attack their own RBC's, does the same happen in isoimmune hemolytic anemia?

No. The dam's antibodies attack the foal's RBC's

In isoimmune hemolytic anemia, how are the dam's antibodies passed to the foal?

Colostrum

What kind of anemia can affect sheep who are given red salt licks meant for cows?

Toxic hemolytic anemia (copper in salt licks for cows is too much for sheep)

What are some other toxins that can cause toxic hemolytic anemia?

Lead, oxidizing agents (raw onion, raw garlic, acetaminophen, aspirin, etc.

What is an RBC morphology change that indicates oxidative damage? They are common in cats

Heinz bodies

Type of anemia that is aquired by infectious means?

Infectious hemolytic anemia

Which parasitic condition can cause infectious hemolytic anemia? It is transmitted by ticks

Babesiosis

Which parasitic condition can cause infectious hemolytic anemia in cattle, sheep, and goats?

Anaplasmosis

Which parasitic condition can cause infectious hemolytic anemia aka feline infectious anemia in cats?

Hemobartonella

Because hemobartonella can be secondary to other conditions, cats that are positive for it should be tested for what?

FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), and FeLV (Feline leukemia virus)

What type of test is required to differentiate what kind of non–regenerative anemia is occuring?

Bone marrow evaluation

What are the four causes of non–regenerative anemia?

1. Deficiency

2. Depressed erythrogenesis

3. Destruction of marrow activity

4. Pure red cell anemia

Anemia caused by iron deficiency is _____–cytic and _____–chromic

micro, hypo

What is another term for anemia caused by depressed erythrogenesis? Usually due to chronic infection

Hypoplastic anemia

What is another term for anemia caused by destruction of marrow activity?

Aplastic anemia

Rare condition where only the RBC's are not being produced, sometimes associated with FeLV

Pure red cell anemia