🩸🥶 Anemias For The ASCP · Microscope Views (FREE)

🩸🥶 Anemias For The ASCP

Hello My Little Hang of Nasties 😜😈

If you are in need of a solid review of the major anemias, this resource covers the essentials; from pathophysiology to lab findings and morphology under the microscope. See below or click the .pdf attachment.

Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights:

🔬 Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

Cause: Inadequate iron → ↓ hemoglobin synthesis.
Labs: ↓ serum iron, ↓ ferritin, ↑ TIBC
Morphology: Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs
Notes: TIBC rises due to increased transferrin production in response to iron deficiency.

💥 Hemolytic Anemia

Cause: Premature RBC destruction—immune or non-immune mediated.
Labs: ↑ reticulocytes, ↑ LDH, ↑ indirect bilirubin, ↓ haptoglobin, (+) DAT (if immune-mediated)
Notes: Often associated with transfusion reactions, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or certain infections/medications.

🧬 Sickle Cell Anemia

Cause: Mutation in the β-globin gene → Hgb S formation
Morphology: Sickle-shaped cells, target cells, anisopoikilocytosis
Labs: ↑ retic count, ↑ WBC/platelets, ↑ LDH/bilirubin, ↓ Haptoglobin
Genetics: Valine replaces glutamic acid at the 6th position of the β-globin chain.

🧪 Thalassemia

Cause: Decreased or absent synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains
Morphology: Microcytic, hypochromic RBCs; target cells; marked anisopoikilocytosis
Alpha Major: 4-gene deletion → hydrops fetalis
Beta Major: ↑ Hgb F and A2, ↓/absent Hgb A
Beta Minor: ↑ Hgb A2
Diagnosis: Hemoglobin electrophoresis

🚫 Aplastic Anemia

Cause: Bone marrow failure (acquired or inherited e.g. Fanconi anemia)
Labs: Pancytopenia, ↓ retic count
Bone Marrow: Hypocellular marrow

🔴 Hereditary Spherocytosis

Cause: Defects in RBC membrane proteins
Morphology: Spherocytes
Labs: ↑ MCHC, (+) Osmotic Fragility Test

🧪 G6PD Deficiency

Cause: X-linked recessive enzyme deficiency → RBCs vulnerable to oxidative stress
Triggers: Fava beans, certain drugs/infections
Morphology: Bite cells, blister cells, Heinz bodies, polychromasia

🥦 Megaloblastic Anemia

Cause: Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency → impaired DNA synthesis
Morphology: Macrocytic cells, hypersegmented neutrophils
Labs: ↓ B12/folate

💍 Sideroblastic Anemia

Cause: Impaired incorporation of iron into hemoglobin
Morphology: Ringed sideroblasts in bone marrow
Can be: Hereditary or acquired
MCV: May be microcytic or macrocytic

🧬 Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)

Cause: Chronic inflammation/infection → iron sequestration
Labs: ↓ serum iron, ↓ TIBC, normal or ↑ ferritin
MCV: Normocytic or microcytic
Mechanism: Cytokines disrupt iron metabolism; iron trapped in macrophages.

This guide is an efficient review tool: concise, high-yield, and ASCP-focused. Perfect to pair with your hematology study sessions or before practice questions.

If you’re having a hard time figuring out where to start studying, let’s book an onboarding call to get you a gameplan 🤗📚🧫https://calendly.com/microscopeviewsyt/free-onboarding-call

xoxo,

Marilyn

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