Anemia Flashcards
What type of anemia causes RBCs to be 2-3 times larger than normal?
Megaloblastic Anemia
Megaloblastic Anemia is a pathology of what?
the stomach
Iron deficiency anemia in women is typically a pathology of what?
Pathology of the reproductive tract in which heavy menstruation leads to excessive blood loss
What do the RBCs look like in iron deficiency anemia?
Microcytic hypochromic RBCs
Describe the appearance of microcytic hypochromic RBCs
They are small in size and pink in color
Iron deficiency anemia in men is typically a pathology of what?
The GI tract
Describe mucosal differences between the esophagus and stomach
It is very thick in the stomach, which allows for hydrochloric acid to exist and very thin in the esophagus
What specialized cells located in the mucosal layer of the stomach secrete hydrocholoric acid?
The parietal cells
When you “eat like a brid” what do the parietal cells do?
They release smaller amounts of acid
What does suppression of the parietal cells result in?
Reduced acid production and the protein intrinsic factor
When there is little intrinsic factor what is the result?
Vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed which leads to anemia
What 2 regions of the GI tract are most affected by iron deficiency anemia in men?
The esophagus and stomach (upper GI)
When there is blood in the stool what is the first thing you should consider?
The upper GI tract as a source of the bleeding. You do not always have to assume the worse in cancer or an ulcerative disease
What is diagnostic of iron deficiency anemia?
Complete blood count (CBC) is diagnostic for anemia
- Small, pink cells = iron deficiency anemia - Large, red cells = megaloblastic anemia
What is Hepatosplenomegaly?
Liver and spleen enlargement due to excessive RBC lysis
What 2 things does an enlarged liver and spleen lead to?
- Effects blood filtration in the liver
- Spleen overload causes suppression of the immune system
Vitamin B12 deficiceny results as ______ anemia
megoblastic
Describe megoblastic anemia
The nucleus is present which interferes with the oxygenation of the RBCs
What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Pale skin, SOB, and fatigue
How is vitamin B12 deficiency treated?
with an intramuscular injection into the gluteus maximus
Describe why or why not normal RBCs typically are not considered “real” cells?
because the nucleus is absent in order to reduce size of the cell
What is folic acid required for?
DNA synthesis and red cell maturation
What type of anemia does folic acid deficiency cause?
the same type of megaloblastic red cells changes that occur in vitamin-B12 deficiency
Where is folic acid absorbed?
from the intestine
