Anaemia/Iron

Question 1

Darbepoetin alfa

Answer 1

Erythropoietin agonists

Recombinant glycoproteins that bind to erythropoietin receptors on erythroid progenitor cells. Stimulate erythropoiesis, increasing reticulocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration.

Question 2

Epoetin alfa

Answer 2

Erythropoietin agonists

Recombinant glycoproteins that bind to erythropoietin receptors on erythroid progenitor cells. Stimulate erythropoiesis, increasing reticulocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration.

Question 3

Epoetin beta

Answer 3

Erythropoietin agonists

Recombinant glycoproteins that bind to erythropoietin receptors on erythroid progenitor cells. Stimulate erythropoiesis, increasing reticulocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration.

Question 4

Methoxy pegepoetin beta/ polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta

Answer 4

Erythropoietin agonists
Recombinant glycoproteins that bind to erythropoietin receptors on erythroid progenitor cells. Stimulate erythropoiesis, increasing reticulocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration.

Question 5

Folic acid/ Vitamin B9

Answer 5

Required for synthesis of purine and pyrimidine bases (DNA) and for amino acid metabolism and normal erythropoiesis. Involved in the maturation of all rapidly proliferating tissues. Important for embryonic organogenesis, particularly neural tube closure.

Question 6

Iron

Answer 6

Essential element required for the formation of haemoglobin and myoglobin.

Question 7

Vitamin B12

Answer 7

There are 2 forms of vitamin B12 available, hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin.

Essential for nerve development, nucleic acid synthesis and normal erythropoiesis.

In cyanide poisoning, hydroxocobalamin combines with cyanide to form cyanocobalamin

Question 8

Deferasirox

Answer 8

Iron chelater

Chelate iron and promote iron excretion by forming a complex with non-transferrin-bound iron; elimination is predominantly biliary (faecal). This decreases the amount of stored iron and prevents continuous distribution of iron to key tissues via plasma non-transferrin-bound iron.

Question 9

Deferiprone

Answer 9

Iron chelater

Chelate iron and promote iron excretion by forming a complex with non-transferrin-bound iron; elimination is predominantly biliary (faecal). This decreases the amount of stored iron and prevents continuous distribution of iron to key tissues via plasma non-transferrin-bound iron.

Question 10

Desferrioxamine

Answer 10

Iron chelater

Chelate iron and promote iron excretion by forming a complex with non-transferrin-bound iron; elimination is predominantly biliary (faecal). This decreases the amount of stored iron and prevents continuous distribution of iron to key tissues via plasma non-transferrin-bound iron.