Chapter 24 - Hematologic Emergencies Flashcards
A vasoocclusive crisis that can be associated with pneumonia; common signs and symptoms include chest pain, fever, and cough; associated with sickle cell disease.
acute chest syndrome
A condition in which red blood cells become trapped in the spleen, causing a dramatic fall in hemoglobin available in the circulation; it usually occurs in infants or toddlers.
acute splenic sequestration syndrome
A lower than normal hemoglobin or erythrocyte level.
Anemia
A temporary halt in the production of red blood cells; it may occur as a result of sickle cell disease.
aplastic crisis
Any type of bleeding disorder that interferes with the activation or continuation of the clotting cascade or hemostasis.
coagulopathy
A condition that begins with widespread activation of the clotting cascade, which depletes the clotting factors and platelets, and eventually results in uncontrolled hemorrhage.
disseminated intravascular coagulation
Red blood cells.
erythrocytes
The proportion of red blood cells in the total blood volume.
hematocrit
An iron-containing pigment found in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the cells from the lungs and carbon dioxide away from the cells to the lungs.
hemoglobin
A condition in which red blood cells break down quickly; it may occur as a result of sickle cell disease.
hemolytic crisis
A disorder relating to the breakdown of red blood cells.
hemolytic disorder
A bleeding disorder that is primarily hereditary, in which clotting does not occur or occurs insufficiently.
hemophilia
The body’s natural blood-clotting mechanism; involves the steps of blood vessel spasm, platelet plug formation, and blood clotting.
hemostasis
The most common type of anemia, in which iron stores are low or lacking and the serum iron concentration is low.
iron-deficiency anemia
A cancer or malignancy of the blood-forming organs that particularly affects the white blood cells, which develop abnormally and/or excessively at the expense of normal blood cells.
leukemia
White blood cells.
leukocytes
An elevated white blood cell count, often due to inflammation.
leukocytosis
A reduction in the number of white blood cells.
leukopenia
Lymphocytes that have been transformed because of stimulation by an antigen.
lymphoblasts
A disease in which the number of plasma cells in the bone marrow increases abnormally, causing tumors to form in the bones.
multiple myeloma
An abnormally low number of neutrophils.
neutropenia
An overabundance or overproduction of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, making the blood thick; a characteristic of people with chronic lung disease and chronic hypoxia.
polycythemia
The system in the body that is primarily used to defend against infection.
reticuloendothelial system
An acute, painful enlargement of the spleen caused by sickle cell disease.
splenic sequestration crisis
A type of anemia in which either not enough hemoglobin is produced or the hemoglobin is defective.
thalassemia
Platelets.
thrombocytes
A reduction in the number of platelets in the blood.
thrombocytopenia
A condition in which the body produces too many platelets.
thrombocytosis
