Ch5 - 6) Normocytic anemia with predominant intravascular hemolysis Flashcards
What are the normocytic anemias with predominant intravascular hemolysis?
1) paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) 2) G6PD deficiency 3) Immune Hemolytic anema (INH) 4) Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia 5) Malaria
What is paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Acquired defect in myeloid stem cells resulting in absent glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI); renders cells susceptible to destruction by complement
What is the relationship between blood cells and complement?
Blood cells coexist with complement.
What is DAF?
Decay accelerating factor (DAF) is on the surface of blood cells and protects against complement-mediated damage by inhibiting C3 convertase.
How is DAF secured to the cell membrane?
By GPI (an anchoring protein)
What does the absence of GPI on the RBC membrane leads to?
absence of DAF, rendering cells susceptible to complement-mediated damage.
How is intravascular hemolysis related to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Intravascular hemolysis occurs episodically, often at night during sleep,
What develops in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
- Mild respiratory acidosis develops with shallow breathing during sleep and activates complement.
In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria what is lysed?
RBCs, WBCs, and platelets are lysed
What test is used to screen for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Sucrose test
What is a confirmatory test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
Acidified serum test or flow cytometry to detect the lack of CD55 (DAF) on blood cells
What is the main cause of death in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?
It is thrombosis of the hepatic, portal, or cerebral veins.
In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria what induces thrombosis?
Destroyed platelets release cytoplasmic contents into circulation, inducing thrombosis.
In paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria what are the complications?
iron deficiency anemia which is due to chronic loss of hemoglobin in the urine) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which develops in 10% of patients.
What is G6PD deficiency?
X-linked recessive disorder resulting in reduced half-life of G6PD; renders cells susceptible to oxidative stress
How does G6PD deficiency lead to intravascular hemolysis?
decreased G6PD ? decreased NADPH ? reduced glutathione ? oxidative injury by H202 ? intravascular hemolysis
What is the relationship between G6PD and RBCs?
RBCs are normally exposed to oxidant stresses particularly H2O2.
What neutralizes H2O2?
Glutathione (an antioxidant) neutralizes H2O2, but becomes oxidized in the process.
What is needed to regenerate glutathione?
NADPH, a by-product of G6PD, is needed to regenerate reduced glutathione.
How many variants are there for G6PD deficiency?
There are two major variants; African variant and Mediterranean variant
What is seen with the African variant of G6PD deficiency?
mildly reduced half-life of G6PD leading to mild intravascular hemolysis with oxidative stress