Clinical Integration-Blood

Question 1

Anisocytosis

Answer 1

A blood abnormality where the RBCs are of unequal sizes. Can be detected in peripheral smears, seen in anemia and thalassemia.

Question 2

Poikilocytosis

Answer 2

When there are poikilocytes in the blood, which are RBCs of distorted shape, that make up more than 10% of the total population. Can be caused due to membrane abnormalities or due to traumatic conditions.

Question 3

What is the shape of poikilocytes?

Answer 3

They are tear drop shaped

Question 4

Anemia

Answer 4

Decrease in hemoglobin concentration. Common symptoms include: weakness/tired feeling (due to increased amount of oxygen to the brain), light headedness, palpitations, and shortness of breath.

Question 5

What symptoms are seen in severe anemia?

Answer 5

fainting, chest pain, angina, heart attack

Question 6

Iron Deficiency Anemia (type of microcytic anemia)

Answer 6

In a stain, the cells are hypochromatic (pale cytoplasm), microcytic (small size of cells), hemolytic (defects in cell membranes cause rupture), aplastic (destruction of bone marrow)

Question 7

Pernicious Anemia (type of macroctyic anemia)

Answer 7

decrease in RBCs due to a lack of B12 absorption in the ileum. May also be caused by a lack of folic acid

Question 8

Thalassemia

Answer 8

hereditary hypochromic anemia resulting from decreased alpha or B chains.

Question 9

B-Thalassemia

Answer 9

Indicated decreased or absent beta chains. This leads to excessive alpha chains produced in compensation are unable to form tetrameters. Instead they bind to the RBC membranes, producing membrane damage, and at high concentrations from toxic aggregates.

Question 10

Hemolytic Anemia-Sickle Cell Anemia

Answer 10

Genetic defect in hemoglobin molecule (Hb-S): hydrophilic glutamic acid replaced hydrophobic valine at point 6 in B chain. Under reduced oxygen saturation, erythrocytes undergo sickling. Cells die in about 10-20 days

Question 11

Hereditary Spherocytosis

Answer 11

Caused by a variety of molecular defects in the genes that code for spectrin, ankyrin, band 3, and band 4 proteins-which are essential for maintaining normal shape of an erythrocyte when deformed, results in a spherical shape of RBC.

Question 12

What does an increase in neutrophils indicate?

Answer 12

acute bacterial infection

Question 13

What does an increase in lymphocytes indicate?

Answer 13

chronic infection

Question 14

What does an increase in monocytes indicate?

Answer 14

Fungal/viral infection

Question 15

What does an increase in eosinophils indicate?

Answer 15

Parasitic infection

Question 16

What does an increase in basophils indicate?

Answer 16

Allergic reaction

Question 17

Hemophilia

Answer 17

Inherited deficiency of clotting factors. Hemophilia A lacks factor VIII (males only) and hemophilia B lacks factor IX (males only), hemophilia C (males & female) has a deficiency of factor XI

Question 18

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura

Answer 18

Cause unknown, decreased platelets, purplish spots in lower limbs and mucous membranes