Essay Example on Anemia: Types & Causes: Microcytic, Normocytic & Macrocytic

Introduction

There are different categories and types of Anemia. To begin with, regarding the red blood cell's size, Anemia has been categorized into three distinct types, namely; microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic Anemia (Chamoli, 2018). Microcytic Anemia occurs when the size of the red blood cells is less than usual. This type of Anemia has been highly affiliated with a lack of specific nutrition. Sideroblastic Anemias, thalassemia, and Anemia of chronic disease fall within the ambit of microcytic Anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is as a result of inadequate iron, a mineral that is phenomenal in hemoglobin formation (Chamoli, 2018). Anemia of chronic disease is a condition that entails different disorders such as infections, cancer, as well as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These underlying disorders ultimately lead to blood loss in a variety of ways. Unlike the majority categories of Anemia, thalassemia is genetic. Thalassemia is caused when the body forms unusual or low hemoglobin (Chamoli, 2018). Sideroblastic Anemias makes the body incapable of using available and adequate iron to make hemoglobin, leading to the appearance of ringed sideroblastic in the mitochondria of the red blood cells.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Normocytic Anemia means the size of the red blood cells is normal, but the total count of the cells is not sufficient to provide reliable oxygen in the body (Chamoli, 2018). On the other hand, macrocytic Anemia encompasses sizeable red blood cells than usual and is mostly caused by Vitamin B12. Sickle cell anemia is hereditary. It is a group of different disorders whereby the body lacks enough, fully functioning blood cells to facilitate adequate oxygen in the body. Polycythemia makes the body produce too many red blood cells, leading to blood clots and thickening the blood as well (Chamoli, 2018). Lastly, leukemia is a type of blood cancer that results from the overproduction of blood cells in the bone marrow, especially white blood cells (Chamoli, 2018).

Laboratory studies

Laboratory research has facilitated appropriate procedures, drugs, and treatment of Anemia in recent years. Diagnosis in microcytic Anemia is initiated by acquiring the complete blood count (Rasa et al., 2012). From the blood count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell indices and red blood cells count are identified. The count of the red blood cells, HCT, as well as the hemoglobin level, distinguish the type of microcytic Anemia (Rasa et al., 2012). Serum ferritin test is carried out to examine inadequate amount of iron in iron-deficiency anemia. Victims of such type of the disease are advised to take foods abundant in irons. Tests for Anemia of chronic disease are executed to distinguish it from iron-deficiency anemia (Rasa et al., 2012). Reduced total iron-binding capacity and low serum iron level differentiate it with iron-deficiency anemia. In thalassemia, diagnosis involves Hemoglobin electrophoresis and complete blood count. Prussian blue stain of a bone marrow aspirate is used in sideroblastic anemia diagnosis. In normocytic Anemia, diagnosis starts with the CBC (Rasa et al., 2012).in the case of this disease, the results of the tests should not indicate alteration in the RBC indices. In sickle cell anemia, testing begins with CMC(Rasa et al., 2012). The differential diagnosis for this disorder entails other Anemia originating from different facilitators such as sickle thalassemia. HCT and CMC tests are used to examine polycythemia. The initial testing of leukemia involves a platelet count and CBC (Rasa et al., 2012).

Evidence-based treatment

In microcytic, if the Hct is less than 27%, red blood cell transfusion is a crucial treatment step (Rasa et al., 2012). Iron-deficiency anemia is addressed by supplemental iron, and increasing dietary .anemia of chronic disease is treated by transfusion of red blood cells whenever the Hct goes below 27% (Gilreath et al., 2014). In the case of thalassemia, clinical vigilance concerning hematological markers is the only way used to address the disease. In sideroblastic Anemia, RBC transfusion can be a prudent clinical step to treat. Supplementation of Folid Acid together with nutritions rich in vitamin B and C are used in the management of sickle cell anemia (Gilreath et al., 2014). Appropriate dehydration can act as a crucial technique in solving the sickle cell problem (Gilreath et al., 2014). The management of polycythemia takes two dimensions and includes the initial management and subsequent management. Initial management involves relative polycythemia, a disorder that dehydrates the body. The clinician aims at rehydrating the victim. On the other hand, subsequent management warrants admission to a hospital. Clinicians, in this case, focus on supplementing oxygen, reducing pain, and control acidosis (Gilreath et al., 2014).

References

Chamoli, S. (2018). Clinical Evaluation of Different Types of Anemia. World Journal Of Anemia, 2(1), 26-30. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10065-0024

Gilreath, J., Stenehjem, D., & Rodgers, G. (2014). Diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related Anemia. American Journal Of Hematology, 89(2), 203-212. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.23628

Rasa, M., Zoran, I., Aleksandra, J., & Ana, V. (2012). Laboratory parameters in the differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia and chronic infections Anemia among children. Medicinski Casopis, 46(3), 132-137. https://doi.org/10.5937/mckg46-1551