Introduction and classification

11


Introduction and classification



Definition


The term ‘anaemia’ refers to a reduction of haemoglobin or red cell concentration in the blood. With the widespread introduction of automated equipment into haematology laboratories the haemoglobin concentration has replaced the haematocrit (or ‘packed cell volume’) as the key measurement. Haemoglobin concentration can be determined accurately and reproducibly and is probably the laboratory value most closely correlated with the pathophysiological consequences of anaemia. Thus, anaemia is simply defined as a haemoglobin concentration below the accepted normal range.


The normal range for haemoglobin concentration varies in men and women and in different age groups (Table 11.1). The definition of normality requires accurate haemoglobin estimation in a carefully selected reference population. Subjects with iron deficiency (up to 30% in some unselected populations) and pregnant women must be excluded or the lower level of normality will be misleadingly low. Normal haemoglobin ranges may vary between ethnic groups and between populations living at different altitudes.





General features


In anaemia the blood’s reduced oxygen-carrying capacity can lead to tissue hypoxia. The clinical manifestations of significant anaemia (see also p. 14) are to a large extent due to the compensatory mechanisms mobilised to counteract this hypoxia. Cardiac overactivity causes palpitations, tachycardia and heart murmurs. The dyspnoea of severe anaemia may be a sign of incipient cardiorespiratory failure. Pallor is due primarily to skin vasoconstriction with redistribution of blood flow to tissues with higher oxygen dependency such as the brain and myocardium.

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Jun 12, 2016 | Posted by in HEMATOLOGY | Comments Off on Introduction and classification

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