Lightning Learning: Anaemia

““Anaemia is a common incidental finding in the ED. Symptoms may include pale skin, fatigue, breathlessness and many more...””

— advice is based on local guidelines & procedures

Download Poster

STOP!

Anaemia is a common incidental finding in the ED

Microcytic, aka 'TICS'

Thalassaemia

Iron deficiency

Chronic disease

Sideroblastic anaemia

Normocytic, aka 'ABBRA'

Anaemia of chronic disease

Bone marrow infiltration,

Bone marrow failure

Renal failure

Acute haemorrhage

Macrocytic, aka ‘BALD HAIR'

B12/B9 deficiency

Alcohol

Liver disease

Drugs (e.g. phenytoin)

Hypothyroidism

Aplastic anaemia & myelodysplasia

Increased Reticulocytes

LOOK

The WHO definition of anaemia is a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of...

<120g/L (Hb<36%) in females

<130g/L (Hb<39%) in males

Microcytic, MCV <80 fL

Normocytic, MCV 80→100 fL

Macrocytic, >100 fL

LEARN

• LITFL: Anaemia
• emDocs: EM@3am – Anemia
• BMJ Best Practice: Assessment of Anaemia