Chapter 5 - RED BLOOD CELL STUDIES Flashcards
Characteristics of a normal Red Blood Cell:
• 7 to 8 um in diameter:
• Average volume:
• Average surface area:
• Shape and Deformity:
• Cytoplasm:
• Average life span:
1.5 to 2.5 um in thickness
90 fL
160 um2
Discocyte/Discocyte; Flexible & deformable
uniformly pink without inclusions
120 days
: used to measure the effective survival of RBCs in vivo.
Chromium-51 (51Cr)
51Cr half-survival time range is
28 - 38 days.
RBC Membrane Compositions:
- Proteins (50%)
- Lipids (40%)
- Carbohydrate (10%)
: Underlie the lipid layer and regulate membrane shape & deformability
RBC Membrane
• Integral proteins:
Glycophorin A and component a (band 3)
• Peripheral proteins:
Spectrin and Actin (form the cytoskeleton)
• Phospholipids:
External surface:
Internal surface:
phosphatidyl choline, glycolipids & sphingomyelin
Cephalin, phosphatidylinositol & phosphatidy|serine
: Amount depends upon the concentration of plasma cholesterol, bile acids, and the activityof the enzyme LCAT.
Cholesterol
• Some serve as red cell antigens (e.g. ABH antigen)
- Carbohydrate (10%)
Anaerobic glycolysi s
Embden Meyerhof Pathway
Major source of 2. red cells ATP
Embden Meyerhof Pathway
oxidative glycolysis
Hexose Monophosphate Shunt/Pentose Phosphate Shunt
generates NADPH and reduced glutathione in the presence of Glucose 6-PO4 dehydrogenase (G6PD). GSH protects the hemoglobin from oxidation by peroxides.
Shunt/Pentose Phosphate Shunt
Generates 2,3DPG /2,3BPG
RapoportLuebering Shunt
Reduction of methemoglobin by NADPH is more efficient in the presence of methemoglobin reductase (cytochrome b5 reductase) which serves as an intermediate electron carrier.
Methemoglobin Reductase Pathway
As RBC ages, there is a decrease in its (?) and an increase in (?). This natural deterioration leads to its phagocytosis.
enzymes, ATP and size
density
destruction of senescent red cells by splenic macrophages.
Extravascular (Macrophage-mediated)
Hemoglobin undergoes degradation within the macrophage where iron is stored as ferritin, amino acids of globin are returned to the metabolic amino acid pool and protoporphyrin is converted to bilirubin which is released into the plasma and excreted by the liver in bile.
Extravascular (Macrophage-mediated)
may be caused by the turbulent environment in the circulation
Intravascular destruction (Mechanical hemolysis)
Hemoglobin is released into the plasma and can be filtered by the kidneys.
Intravascular destruction (Mechanical hemolysis)
Plasma (?) salvage the released hemoglobin so that its iron is not lost in the urine
haptoglobin and hemopexin
Biconcave disc
Normal
Normocyte
Smaller RBCs, with diameter less than 7 µm
Microcyte
Any defect that results in impaired Hb synthesis
Microcyte
Hypochromic
Anulocyte
Iron deficiency anemia;
Microcyte
Hypochromic/Anulocyte
Ellipto
Sideroblastic anemia
Microcyte
Pappenheimer
Thalassemia
Microcyte
Hypochromic/Anulo
Ellipto
Target
BS
PP
Anemia of Chronic Inflammation
Microcyte
Lead Poisoning
Microcyte
BS
CR
RBCs >9 µm in diameter, with an MCV >100 fL
Macrocyte
larger than 10 µmn diameter
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
-Accelerated erythropoiesis
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
HJ
BS
- Defective DNA synthesis
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
-In conditions where membrane cholesterol and lecithin levels are increased
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
Hemolytic anemia & Acute Blood Loss
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
Megaloblastic Process; Chemotherapy
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
Liver disease, Alcoholism
Macrocyte
Gigantocyte/ Megalocyte
Presence of 2 distinct populations of red cells that may differ in size, shape or hemoglobin content
Dimorphic RBCs
anemia after transfusion
Dimorphic RBCs
ANISOCYTOSIS & POIKILOCYTOSIS GRADING
Normal
Slight
1+
2+
3+
4+
5%
5 10%
10 25%
25 50%
50 75%
> 75%
MACROCYTOSIS GRADING
1+ (slight)
2+ to 3+ (moderate)
4+ (marked)
25%
25% - 50%
> 50%
Homogenous with central palor
Normal
Normochromic
RBCs show inc central pallor (exceeds 1/3 of the diameter of the red cell
Hypochromic
Thin & poorly hemoglobinized cells
Anulocyte
defect in hb synthesis due either to:
decrease in heme synthesis
defect in globin chain synthesis
Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
Thalassemia
Hypochromic
Anulocyte
Cells that lack central pallor and with reduced diameter
Spherocytic (Hyperchromic)
Defects in the cytoskeletal proteins
Spherocytic (Hyperchromic)
Hereditary and acquired spherocytosis
Spherocytic (Hyperchromic)
Area of central pallor is one-half of cell diameter
1+
Area of pallor is two-thirds of cell diameter
2+
Area of pallor is three-quarters
3+
Thin rim of hemoglobin
4+
: 1/3 to 2/3 of cells diameter
1+ (slight) central pallor
: more than 2/3
2+ to 3+ (moderate)
: thin rim on the periphery
4+ (marked)
Percentage of Polychromatophilic Cells
Slight
1+
2+
3+
4+
1 %
3 %
5 %
10 %
>11 %
PcC/f
1+
2+
3+
( 1 3 polychromatophilic cells/field)
( 3 5 PcC/f)
( >5 PcC/f )
Range from egg-shape, slightly oval to sausage, rod, or pencil forms
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
Hb appears to be concentrated at the two ends of the cell, leaving a normal central pallor area.
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
decrease in skeletal membrane CHON band 4.1
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
increase heat sensitivity of spectrin
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
Small numbers may by acquired in:
- iron deficiency,
- megaloblastic anemia,
- myelophthisic anemia,
- thalassemias & sickle cell anemia
Ovalocytes (Elliptocytes)
Smaller in diameter than normal RBC
Spherocyte
With concentrated hb content
Spherocyte
No visible central pallor
Spherocyte
indicates a hemolytic process (hemolysis results from a membrane abnormality
Spherocyte
Hereditary Spherocytosis
Spherocyte
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Spherocyte
Agglutination
Normal aging process
Spherocyte
Storage phenomenon
Spherocyte
Severe burns
Spherocyte
With irregularly sized & unevenly spaced spicules
Burr cell
Depletion of ATP
Burr cell
Exposure to hypertonic solution
Burr cell
May occur in situations that cause a change in tonicity of the intravascular fluid
Burr cell
Associated w/ renal insufficiency
Burr cell
What is the difference between a burr cell and an echinocyte?
With few (3-12) irregularly spaced, pointed spicules/thornlike projections of various lengths and widths
Acanthocytes
May be caused by changes in the ratio of plasma lipids
Acanthocytes
Associated w/ end stage liver disease
Acanthocytes