Anaemia

Disease class: Haematologic diseases

Definition

Anaemia refers to an insufficient supply of functional erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood.
It is a feature of aplastic anaemia, wherein production of all blood cells is deficient (pancytopenia).

 

Types

• anaemia, Aplastic
• anaemia, Haemolytic
• anaemia, Hypochromic
• anaemia, Macrocytic
• anaemia, Myelophthisic
• anaemia, Neonatal
• anaemia, Refractory
• anaemia, Sideroblastic
• Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure

  

Causes

• Loss of erythrocytes
• Dyfunctional haemoglobin synthesis
• Dysfunctional DNA synthesis
• Insufficient stimulation of erythropoeisis

 

Investigations

• Full blood count 
• Blood film