Anaemia: Types

• Aplastic a. Anaemia caused by deficient red cell production due to bone marrow disorders.
• Haemolytic a. Anaemia is the result of the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) by drugs, artificial heart valves, toxins, snake venoms, infections, and antibodies. Drugs may either destroy the RBC membrane directly or may stimulate the production of autoantibodies that lyse (kill) the RBCs. Children may develop hemolytic anaemia in response to the destruction of RBCs by viral and bacterial organisms. Artificial valves cause physical damage to the RBC membrane during the circulation of blood through the heart.
• Iron deficiency a. Anaemia resulting from a greater demand for stored iron that can be supplied. The red blood cell count may sometimes be normal, but there will be insufficient Hb. Erythrocytes will be pale (hypochromic) and have abnormal shapes (poikilocytosis).
• Macrocytic a. Anaemia marked by abnormally large erythrocytes.
• Megaloblastic a. Anaemia in which megaloblasts are found in the blood.
• Microcytic a. Anaemia marked by abnormally small red blood cells.
• Normocytic a. Anaemia in which the size and Hb content of red blood cells remain normal.
• Pernicious a.A chronic, macrocytic anaemia marked by achlorhydria. It is an autoimmune disease. The parietal cells of the stomach lining fail to secrete enough intrinsic factor to ensure intestinal absorption of Vitamin B12, the extrinsic factor. This is due to atrophy of the glandular mucosa of the fundus of the stomach and is associated with the absence of hydrochloric acid.
• Physiological anaemia of pregnancy Pseudoanemia of pregnancy.
• Septic a. Anaemia due to severe infections.