3058 results
Causes of Anemia with Normal Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Differential Diagnosis Algorithm
Decreased WBCs
 - Decreased/NormaI
Causes of Anemia ... Macrocytes, Normal RBCs ... Polychromatic Macrocytes, RBC ... Spherocytes, RBC ... ) - Abnormal RBCs
Overall Approach to Anemia - Differential Diagnosis Algorithm

Blood Loss
 • Acute Bleed - Normocytic / Normochromic
/ Normochromic RBCs ... TIBC, Hypochromic RBCs ... Decreased RBC ... Disorder • RBC ... Diagnosis #Algorithm #Causes
Several artifacts can cause significant and potentially misleading alterations to measured RBC parameters: 
1. Old samples
artifacts can cause ... alterations to measured RBC ... RBCs to swell, ... RBCs to shrink, ... a falsely low RBC
Hematuria Workup and Diagnosis Algorithm
 • Confirm hematuria → Urinalysis >3 RBCs/HPF, exclude mimics, repeat testing
Urinalysis >3 RBCs ... (proteinuria, RBC ... casts, dysmorphic ... RBCs)? ... Nephrology if cause
Causes of False Elevation and Reduction in HbA1c

== False Elevation ==
Decreased RBC turnover 
• Iron, B-12,
Causes of False ... == Decreased RBC ... Glucose Content • RBC ... Reduction == Increase RBC ... Dilutional Effect • RBC
Causes of Anemia with elevated Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Differential Diagnosis Algorithm
Normal Blood Smear
 •
Causes of Anemia ... Neutrophils - Low RBC ... Pernicious Anemia RBCs ... Cells, Normal WBCs ... Diagnosis #Algorithm #Causes
Plasmodium Falciparum Blood Smear.
Key features suggesting Plasmodium falciparum:
- extreme parasitemia
- normocytic RBCs (vivax, ovale prefer big
parasitemia - normocytic RBCs ... multiples per RBC ... P. falciparum causes ... human malaria cases
Causes of Anemia with Low Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - Differential Diagnosis Algorithm
Decreased Heme Synthesis or
Causes of Anemia ... - Fe/TlBC, MCV/RBC ... Deficiency (Eg Causes ... TIBC Normal - MCV/RBC ... inclusions in RBC
Hyperkalemia Differential Diagnosis Algorithm
R/O Pseudo-hyperkalemia:
 • Possible Lab error! Alwavs Repeat Blood sample!
 • Leukocytosis, Thrombocytosis:
ischemia-induced RBC ... hemolysis) • RBC ... Diagnosis #Algorithm #causes
Hematuria - Differential Diagnosis Framework

Gross Hematuria: Red/Dark urine
 • 1ml blood/liter urine can induce color change
Hematuria: 3 or more RBC ... hematuria: - RBC ... - Dysmorphic RBC ... Urethra/Prostate Causes ... urinary tract) Causes