Haematology Practice Flashcards: Anaemias and Hematopoietic Malignancies

Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA)

The most common anaemia worldwide caused by poor diet or parasite infection, characterized by microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells with low $\text{MCV}$ ($<77\text{--}80 accession fL$) and low $\text{MCH}$.

Divalent Metal Transporter 1 (DMT1)

Transporter protein on the apical membrane of duodenal enterocytes that facilitates the cellular entry of reduced ferrous iron ($\text{Fe}^{2+}$).

Ferroportin

The sole known transmembrane protein channel responsible for exporting ferrous iron ($\text{Fe}^{2+}$) out of enterocytes, hepatocytes, and macrophages into the bloodstream.

Hepcidin

Liver-produced peptide hormone controlled by iron-sensing and inflammatory pathways that negatively regulates systemic iron availability by triggering internalization and degradation of ferroportin.

Ferritin

Major intracellular, soluble iron-storage protein synthesized in proportion to mobilizable body iron stores in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

Haemosiderin

Heterogeneous, water-insoluble granular iron-storage pigment formed from aggregated, denatured ferritin that stains golden-yellow on light microscopy and blue with Perls' Prussian blue stain.

Transferrin

Plasma transport protein produced by the liver that binds ferric iron ($\text{Fe}^{3+}$) to transport it safely through blood to erythroid precursors and storage sites.

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Laboratory measure of the maximum amount of iron that plasma transferrin can bind, which becomes elevated when body iron stores are depleted.

Pica

Unique symptom of iron deficiency defined by an abnormal craving for non-nutritive substances such as dirt, ice, or clay.

Koilonychia

Physical sign of chronic, severe iron deficiency characterized by spoon-shaped curvature of the finger or toe nails.

Anaemia of Chronic Disorders

Anaemia secondary to chronic inflammation, infection, or malignancy caused by elevated serum hepcidin trapping iron in macrophages, resulting in low serum iron despite normal or increased storage iron.

Sideroblastic Anaemia

Group of refractory anaemias characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis where iron fails to incorporate into haem within erythroblasts, leading to mitochondrial iron accumulation.

Ring Sideroblasts

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