Anemias

Anemia is something very common and is defined as the hemoglobin and or hematocrit below the lower limit within the 95% reference interval for age,sex and geographic location. From that at least 2.5% of individuals are classified as anemic. Anemias can be absolute or relative. Absolute refers to a decreased red cell mass and relative as a higher plasma volume. Absolute anemia fall into two major pathophysiologic categories: impaired cell production and increased cell destruction and loss in excess in which the bone marrow can't replace these loses. The presence of anemia maybe a bad sign of an underlying condition in which such identification is important to correct it. Relative anemia in which the plasma volume increasse can occur in pregnancy, macroglobulinemia and splenomegaly.
I will defined these terms later. Anemias can be classified by pathophysiology or red cell morphology. When is classified by red cell morphology we have three major categories....Normocytic,Microcytic or Macrocytic. Signs of anemia can be; easy fatigability, dyspnea or difficult to breath, faintness, vertigo, palpitation and headache. Physical findings include; pallor, a rapid bounding pulse, low pressure, fever, edema and systolic murmurs. Also there is a classification of anemias associate with the pathophysiology(reason):
Categories of Anemias by Pathophysiology:
A. Blood Loss
1. Chronic
2. Acute
B. Hemolytic
1. Acquired disorders
2. Inherited defects
C. Impaired Production
1. Iron deficiency
2. Chronic Disease
3. Megaloblastic
4. Sideroblastic
5. Aplastic
D. Hemolytic hemoglobin disorders (Hemoglobinopathies)
We will discussed each one in details, laboratory findings and treatment if neccesary.