Anaemia

This condition is treated in the Haematology (including oncological disorders) clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

Causes of anaemia are varied.  Appropriate features on history, examination and blood film comments may suggest an underlying cause. 

All referrals should comply to referral standards referral standards and include in particular:

• Relevant investigations, including previous results to assess temporal pattern.

Tests

Full Blood Examination

• Microcytic anaemia
  • Iron studies (Iron deficiency - see note above)
  • Haemoglobin electrophoresis (thalassaemia/haemoglobinopathy
• Normocytic anaemia
  • The most common causes are chronic renal failure (reduced synthesis of erythropoietin) and anaemia of chronic disease. Clinical features are critical in the assessment.
• Macrocytic anaemia
  • Dedicated blood film assessment looking for dysplastic features
  • Liver function tests (Liver disease)
  • Thyroid function tests (hypothyroidism)
  • Haemolysis screen (reticulocytosis due to haemolysis can cause macrocytosis)

Bilirubin, haptoglobin (reduced), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), direct agglutination test (DAT), Reticulocytes.

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Haematology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Iron deficiency anaemia with a history of gastrointestinal blood loss should be referred to Gastroenterology or GI Surgery for consideration of endoscopy.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

? Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

? Severe cytopenias if patient is unwell (i.e. infection, symptomatic anaemia, active bleeding):

• Neutrophils under 0.5 x 10^9/L
• Haemoglobin under 80g/L
• Platelets under 20 x 10^9/L

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 1 - W.P. Holman Clinic
Phone: 03 6777 6140
Fax: 03 6331 6371

North West

North West Regional Hospital > Mersey Community Hospital
Torquay Road Latrobe TAS 7307

Visit Northern Cancer Service

South

Royal Hobart Hospital (Level 1 - A Block)

Phone (appointments): 03 6166 6655
Phone (clinic nurses): 03 6166 6637
Fax: 03 6173 0484