Severe anemia: causes

Deterioration of the state due to lack of oxygen is known to many. The matter is that for normal vital activity all tissues of an organism require food. This refers to the sufficient amount of oxygen required by the cells. Especially it concerns tissues of the brain and heart. Insufficient oxygen supply to the cells is observed in anemia. There are several varieties of this pathology. Some are caused by congenital defects, others develop due to various disorders. Nevertheless, the main criterion for all anemia is the inadequate amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The manifestations of this pathology include pallor, changes in laboratory parameters and hypoxia of organs.

What is anemia?

Anemia is a disease of the hematopoietic system caused by a deficiency of hemoglobin. Normally, this protein should be maintained at a certain level (120-140 g / l in women, the figure for men - 140-160). Deficiency of hemoglobin can occur for various reasons. Regardless of why anemia has occurred, it leads to a state of hypoxia. After all, hemoglobin is needed to transfer oxygen to all organs and systems. Therefore, its lack leads to the fact that the cells are deficient in O ₂ . Each type of anemia is characterized by its clinical picture and laboratory data. But an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood is always diagnosed. Most often anemia is suspected in the presence of such symptoms as pallor of the skin and general weakness. This disease is quite common among pregnant women. A slight decrease in hemoglobin in most cases is not dangerous and can be easily corrected by diet and medication. Severe anemia can lead to serious impairment. Therefore, it is necessary to provide emergency assistance.

Degrees of severity of anemia

Allocate 3 degrees of severity of anemia. They differ in the clinical picture and in the different levels of hemoglobin in the blood. Among them:

1. Anemia of mild severity. The hemoglobin content at this stage is 120-90 g / l. Pathology is characterized by small hemodynamic disorders. In some cases, does not manifest. Sometimes there is pallor, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness.
2. Anemia of moderate severity. At this stage, the amount of hemoglobin is 90-70 g / l. Symptoms are more severe. There may be syncope, memory and thinking disorders, drowsiness.
3. Anemia of severe severity is observed with a hemoglobin level below 70 g / l. It is dangerous for the body condition. It leads to the breakdown of all functional systems due to a pronounced lack of oxygen.

Types of severe anemia: classification

Severe anemia can develop against the background of any of the varieties of the disease. Such a diagnosis is made regardless of the cause that caused the pathology. The main criterion is a pronounced hemoglobin deficiency - less than 70 g / l. Nevertheless, it is very important to distinguish one type of anemia from another. After all, the choice of methods of treatment depends on this. Classification of the disease is as follows:

1. Lack of hemoglobin caused by iron deficiency (IDA). This type of disease is more common than others. It is caused by a violation of iron absorption or a small intake of this element with food.
2. In _12- deficiency severe anemia. It is caused by vitamin deficiency. It is often found in people with chronic gastritis.
3. Aplastic anemia of severe degree. It refers to congenital pathologies.
4. Hemolytic anemia. This pathology is considered an autoimmune disease. Can be both congenital and acquired.
5. Severe degree of anemia Fanconi. This disease refers to congenital defects of the hematopoietic system.

Severe anemia: causes of pathology

It is worth remembering that, regardless of the degree and variety, anemia never appears by itself, without cause. To begin treatment of pathology, it is necessary to find out what triggered the ailment. The most common iron deficiency anemia is severe. It occurs for the following reasons:

1. Inadequate receipt of necessary products. This refers to food rich in iron. Products containing this element are meat, liver, pomegranate, apples, etc.
2. Impaired absorption of iron in the intestine. It develops because of insufficient enzymes or due to chronic diseases of the digestive tract.
3. Different types of blood loss. Therefore, it is so important to collect a gynecological anamnesis (duration and abundance of menstruation), to find out whether there are hemorrhoids. Owing to these diseases, chronic severe anemia often develops. Acute blood loss can occur with complications of peptic ulcer disease, liver cirrhosis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian apoplexy and cyst rupture.
4. Heavy injuries.

In _12- deficient anemia occurs with diseases of the stomach (chronic atrophic gastritis), resection of the body in cancer pathologies, perforated ulcer.

Other causes of hemoglobin deficiency are congenital and autoimmune lesions of the red hematopoiesis, hemolysis (destruction) of erythrocytes.

The mechanism of severe anemia

Why develop a severe degree of anemia? First of all, this happens if the patient does not notice the changes that occur with an unexpressed hemoglobin deficiency. Especially often this phenomenon can be observed with chronic blood loss. Since the human body is accustomed to a constant "oxygen starvation," it is compensated by various mechanisms (increased cardiac activity). IDA develops due to lack of iron. As a result, hemoglobin molecules are not formed in the required amount. At В ₁₂ deficiency anemia, vitamins are not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to inflammation or resection of the organ. Severe anemia is common in congenital forms of the disease. They develop due to immaturity with hematopoiesis. In this case, a large amount of adipose tissue is found in the bone marrow.

Clinical picture with severe degree of anemia

If the hemoglobin level falls below 70 g / l, a serious degree of disease is diagnosed. At the same time, the compensatory mechanisms of the body no longer function. For this reason, oxygen deficiency is felt in all functional systems. As a result, the following symptoms develop:

1. Pronounced pallor of the skin.
2. Violation of consciousness. With severe degree of anemia, drowsiness, fainting can occur.
3. Falling blood pressure.
4. Increased palpitations.
5. Dizziness.
6. Severe weakness. In this state, a person can not get out of bed, with a head rise there is dizziness, a syncope is possible.
7. Dyspnea.

If you do not provide assistance in time, you may be disrupted by vital systems and organs. In such cases, OPN is often observed, cardiogenic shock.

Anemia in Pregnant Women: Features

Anemia refers to the symptoms that pregnant women often complain about. This is due to the fact that, in addition to the mother's body, oxygen is also needed for the child. Due to the appearance of an additional circle of blood circulation (placental), a decrease in hemoglobin is often observed. Therefore, the normal index for pregnancy is 110 g / l. With a sharp drop in the level of hemoglobin, urgent help is needed. Severe anemia of pregnant women is dangerous not only for the mother, but also for the child. Most often, it develops because of complications such as placental abruption or spontaneous abortion. Therefore, bleeding from the genital tract should immediately call a doctor.

Diagnostic signs of anemia

In order to diagnose anemia, it is enough to check the blood test. Severe disease is observed with a hemoglobin level below 70 g / l. Clinical signs are pallor, lowering blood pressure, tachycardia, dizziness and fainting. Often, severe anemia is accompanied by blood loss. To determine the cause of the decline in hemoglobin, it is necessary to conduct a number of laboratory studies. For the diagnosis of IDA, a biochemical blood test is done. At the same time there are such changes as a decrease in serum iron level and an increase in OJSS. To diagnose other types of anemia, you need to make a microscopic analysis of blood and liquor. For this purpose, a spinal puncture is performed.

What diseases differentiate severe anemia?

In some cases, anemic syndrome occurs in diseases of the hematopoietic system and the liver. Reduction of hemoglobin accompanies almost all oncological pathologies. This is especially true for cancer of the blood - leukemia. You can distinguish them from anemia by changing other indicators in the UAC. These include: a decrease in the level of platelets and leukocytes, acceleration of ESR. There are also differences in the clinical picture (subfebrile temperature, enlarged lymph nodes). Anemic syndrome is present in cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis. To diagnose these pathologies, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity is performed, special laboratory studies.

Severe anemia: treatment of the disease

Regardless of the cause of anemia, severe blood transfusion or erythrocyte mass is required. In addition, symptomatic therapy is performed. When the electrolyte balance is disturbed, physiological saline solution, preparations containing potassium are injected. If the cause of anemia is bleeding, urgent surgical intervention is necessary. In addition, drug therapy is provided. Stem is injected with sodium stearate, aminocaproic acid. With aplastic anemia , a bone marrow transplant is required. If the cause is a lack of vitamin B ₁₂ , lifelong replacement therapy is carried out.

Consequences of severe anemia

One should remember about the danger, which is anemia of a severe degree. The consequences of this condition are cardiogenic shock, acute renal failure, as well as impairment of the functions of other vital organs. These complications can lead to death. Therefore, even with minor bleeding, you should immediately consult a doctor.