anaemia 1

Question 1

what is anaemia?

Answer 1

• a lack of haemoglobin in the blood
• due to lack of haem production (usually Fe deficiency)
• lack of globulin production (plasma protein)

Question 2

what causes anaemia?

Answer 2

• reduced production of haemoglobin
• increased losses of haemoglobin
• increased demand for Hb

Question 3

what can cause a reduced production of Hb?

Answer 3

• bone marrow failure
• iron deficiency
• abnormal globin chain production
• chronic inflammatory disease
  -vit b12 for folate deficiency

Question 4

what can cause increased losses of Hb?

Answer 4

• chronic or slow bleeding in git

due to ulcers etc.

autoimmune disease

drug related issues

Question 5

how would a vitamin b12 deficiency affect someone?

Answer 5

causes formation of large oval blood cells

bone marrow hence produces fewer cells

decreased oxygen content in blood and less haemoglobin

Question 6

what would be the implications of a lack of folic acid in pregnancy?

Answer 6

neural tube defects of the foetus

spina bifida causing the incorrect development of the foetus’ spine

Question 7

what is thalassaemia?

Answer 7

normal haem production but genetic mutations of globin chains.

causes large numbers of RBC to be destroyed as globin is abnormal.

Question 8

describe sickle cell anaemia

Answer 8

abnormal globin chains
causes RBC to change shape in low oxygen environments.

the odd shape prevents RBC from passing through capillaries.

can therefore cause ischaemia and necrosis and tissue pain.