Hematology (General diagnosis section)

What is red blood cell (RBC)?

Absolute # of circulation RBC’s per unit volume of blood

What are normal levels of RBCs?

4-6 million/cm³

What does increased RBC level indicate?

Primary: polycythemia vera; relative/secondary: high altitude

What does decreased RBC level indicate?

Anemia

What is Hemoglobin (Hb)?

Direct measure of weight of hemoglobin/unit volume of blood

What are normal levels of Hb?

15 gm%

What does increased Hb indicate?

Dehydration (loss of blood fluid volume); polycythemia vera

What does decreased Hb indicate?

Anemia

What is hematocrit (Hct)?

Packed cell volume, ratio of the volume of the RBCs to that of whole blood

What are normal levels of Hct?

42 +/- 5%

What does increased Hct indicate?

Dehydration polycythemia vera

What does decreased Hct indicate?

Anemia

What is mean corpuscular volume (MCV)?

Calculated measure of the size of the average circulating RBC

What are normal levels for MCV?

90

What does increased MCV indicate?

Macrocytic anemia >100

What does decreased MCV indicate?

Microcytic anemia <80

What is mean corpuscular Hb (MCH)?

Calculated weight of hemoglobin in the average circulating RBC

What are normal levels of MCH?

30

What does increased MCH indicate?

Macrocytic anemia

What does decreased MCH indicate?

Microcytic anemia

What is mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC)?

Average concentration of Hb in a given volume of packed cells

What are normal levels of MCHC?

33

What does increased MCHC indicate?

Macrocytic anemia

What does decreased MCHC indicate?

Microcytic anemia

What are platelets thrombocytes?

Absolute quantification of circulating thrombocytes/volume

What are normal levels of platelets thrombocytes?

200,000-350,000 mm³

What does an increase in platelets thrombocytes indicated?

Polycythemia, trauma, blood loss

What does a decrease in platelets thrombocytes indicated?

Anemia, extensive or burns thrombocytopenia

What are WBC (leukocyte count)?

Absolute quantification of total circulating WBC/unit of blood

What are normal levels of WBC?

5,00-10,000 mm³

What does an increase in WBC indicated?

Acute infection, inflammation, leukemia, over 50,000

What does a decrease in WBC indicated?

Overwhelming, infection, viral conditions

What are the different types of WBCs?

Neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis, eosinophilia, basophilia

What are normal levels of neutrophilia?

60%

What does an increase in levels of neutrophilia indicate?

Bacterial infection

What are normal levels of lymphocytosis?

30%

What does an increase in levels of lymphocytosis indicate?

Virus

What are normal levels of monocytosis?

8%

What does an increase in levels of monocytosis indicate?

Chronic inflammation

What are normal levels of eosinophilia?

2%

What does an increase in levels of eosinophilia indicate?

Allergies, parasites

What are normal levels of basophilia?

0%

What does an increase in levels of basophilia indicate?

Heparin production/histamine release

What is excessive hemolysis?

Increased indirect bilirubin and increased reticulocytes; + Coombs test

What is sickle cell anemia?

Presents with nucleated RBCs; caused by Hgb S and seen in 10% of African Americans

What is Thalassemia aka Mediterranean Anemia?

Presents with microcytic target cells; caused by decreased beta chain synthesis and is seen in Mediterranean, North Africa, and South East Asia

What is erythroblastosis fetalis?

Caused by an Rh+ father and baby and an Rh- mother

What type of anemia is megaloblastic anemia?

Macrocytic normochronic

Where would you seen a deficiency B9/Folic acid?

Chronic alcoholics, pregnancy, malabsorption

Why should you take B9/folic acid during pregnancy?

To prevent neural tube defects

What is B12/Cyanocobalamin pernicious anemia?

Lack of IF due to chronic atrophic gastric mucosa causing loss of parietal cells

What is the diagnostic test for B12/Cyanocobalamin pernicious anemia?

Shilling test (24 hour urine)

What is the treatment for B12/Cyanocobalamin pernicious anemia?

B12 shots

What can B12/Cyanocobalamin pernicious anemia lead to?

Progresses to posterolateral sclerosis (PLS) of SC, which is also known as, combined systems disease

What is iron deficiency anemia?

Hypochromic microcytic; seen with chronic blood loss and pregnancy

What is aplastic anemia?

Normochromic normocytic; pahypoplasia of the bone marrow, decrease in all blood cells; seen with drugs, chemotherapy, radiation, multiple myeloma, RA, leukopenia, acute blood loss, benzene poisoning, and thrombocytopenia