Anemia

Question 1

Define Anemia

Answer 1

Lower than normal number of RBCs

Question 2

Define Hematocrit

Answer 2

Measure of the percent of the colume of the whole blood made up by RBCs

Question 3

Define Hematocrit

Answer 3

The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells.

Question 4

Define the 3 types of hemoglobin

Answer 4

Type A, F, A2

Question 5

What is the role of fetal hemoglobin?

Answer 5

Its primary job is bind tightly to oxygen by facilitating the transfer from mother to fetus across the placenta. After birth, the hgb F transitions to primarily hgb

Question 6

What is the Retic index formula?

Answer 6

ReticCount X Hematocrit/Normal Hematocrit (45)

Question 7

What is the cause of microcytic anemias?

Answer 7

"TICS"
T-  Thalassemia syndromes
 I-  Iron Deficiency  
C-  Chronic Disease
S-  Sideroblastic Anemia

Question 8

Define thalassemia

Answer 8

When people do not have enough hemoglobin and is caused by the inheritance of a defective gene.

Question 9

Discuss Beta thalassemia

Answer 9

Beta chain is absent or diminished (this indicates the severity of the disease); the more beta produced, the less severity of diagnosis

Question 10

*What do beta thalassemia cells look like?

Answer 10

Target cells present

Hypochromic/microcytis (small and pale)

Question 11

Discuss Alpha thalassemia

Answer 11

Alpha chain is absent

Question 12

Discuss hydrops fetalis

Answer 12

No functional/lack of alpha chain
4 gene deletion that results in still borne birth, hepatosplenomegaly, marked anemia, increased MCV, and microcytic/hypochromic

Question 13

• What are the characteristic lab findings of Iron deficient anemia?

Answer 13

low serum iron, high total iron binding capacity, low serum ferritin

Question 14

What are the signs of anemia?

Answer 14

Skin Pallor, Pale Mucous Membranes, Mild Tachycardia,
Widened Pulse Pressure,
Systolic Ejection Murmur,
Mild Peripheral Edema

Question 15

What are the symptoms of anemia?

Answer 15

Dyspnea on Exertion, Palpitations, Fatigue, Syncope
Mood Disturbances, Decreased memory, Abnormal Sleep Patterns, Pica, Brittle spoon nails, Blue Sclera
Glossitis,, Angular stomatitis,
Gastric atrophy, Impaired immunity, Decreased exercise intolerance

Question 16

What are the causes of macrocytosis vitamin B12 deficiency

Answer 16

Pernicious Anemia
Gastrectomy
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
Intestinal Causes
Pancreatic Insufficiency
Strict vegetarian Diet

Question 17

What are the causes of macrocytosis folate deficiency

Answer 17

Decreased nutritional intake
Nontropical and tropical sprue
Increased Cell turnover
Drug Induced

Question 18

Define anisocytosis

Answer 18

red cells are of unequal size.

Question 19

Define poikilocytosis

Answer 19

which indicates that red cells of abnormal shape are present on the blood film.

Question 20

Define Hypochromia

Answer 20

An anemic condition in which the percentage of hemoglobin in red blood cells is abnormally low (will present with clearish cells; low color)

Question 21

Describe the role of erythropoietin.

Answer 21

• Stimulates Proerythroblasts formation
• Causes cells to pass through various stages of Erythropoiesis rapidly
• RBC production

Question 22

• Anemia due to low erythropoietin will present with which type of cells?

Answer 22

Burr cells (echinocytes)

Question 23

Definition of bilirubin?

Answer 23

Degradation by-product of heme breakdown within the reticuloendothelial system

Question 24

What is the location of conjugated bilirubin?

Answer 24

Liver

Question 25

What medical conditions cause direct (conjugated) bilirubin?

Answer 25

Gallstones
Tumor
Inflammation
Scarring
Obstruction of the extrahepatic ducts

Question 26

What medical conditions cause indirect (unconjugated) bilirubin?

Answer 26

Hemolysis
Hepatitis
Drugs

Question 27

Define microcytosis

Answer 27

condition in which red blood cells are unusually small as measured by their mean corpuscular volume.

Question 28

Define macrocytosis

Answer 28

enlargement of red blood cells with near-constant hemoglobin concentration

Question 29

Define prophyria

Answer 29

group of inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway

Question 30

What is the cause/pathophysiology of prophyria?

Answer 30

accumulation of porphyrins (heme precursors) which are toxic to tissue in high concentrations.

Question 31

What are the signs of acute (hepatic)porphyria?

Answer 31

Abdominal pain
		Vomiting
		Acute neuropathy 
		Seizures 
		Mental disturbances (ie. hallucinations, 		depression, anxiety and paranoia)
	 	Cardiac arrhythmias and tachycardia

Question 32

What are the symptoms of cutaneous (erythropoeitic) porphyria?

Answer 32

-Photosensitivity (photodermatitis)
blisters, necrosis of the skin and gums
-itching,swelling, increased hair growth on areas such as the forehead
-purple hue or red urine reddish appearance to the teeth and fingernails

Question 33

Hypersegmented neutrophils are associated with what?

Answer 33

Macrocytic B12 anemia

Question 34

What is the treatment for cutaneous porphyrias?

Answer 34

Sunscreen

Pharmaceutical-grade Beta carotene

Question 35

What is the treatment for acute porphrias?

Answer 35

Diet (90% Carbs)
Early Identification
Symptom control (for seizures, depression, pain, etc.)
Treat underlying liver disease