Exam 2; Red Blood Cell Disorders Flashcards
This is the reduction in red cell mass with consequent decrease in oxygen transport
anemia
Anemia can cause impaired tissue oxygenation, which can lead to what for clinical symptoms
shortness of breath
weakness
fatigue
pallor
In which ways can anemia develop
RBC loss
decreased RBC survival
decreased RBC production
What are three laboratory tests that can be used to test for anemia
CBC blood smear review reticulocyte count iron indices hemolysis work-up
A young, healthy individual can tolerate up to how much rapid blood loss with minimal symptoms
1000ml
Rapid blood loss of this, in a young healthy individual produces shock
2000ml
Once blood loss is controlled, what occurs
interstitial fluid redistributes to re-expand vascular volume
How does chronic hemorrhage cause anemia
when the rate of loss exceeds the capacity for RBC regeneration or when iron reserves are depleted
This is the destruction of red cells within the circulation
intravascular hemolysis
This is the destruction of red cells within the reticuloendothelial system; spleen and liver
extravascular hemolysis
Chronic hemorrhage is typically secondary to what
chronic bleeding in the GI or menorrhagia that eventually leads to iron deficiency
This is a key feature in intravascular hemolysis
decrease in serum haptoglobin (hemoglobin carrying protein)
the free hemoglobin is excreted in the urine of which is toxic to the kidney and the iron is lost in the urine
heme is converted to bilirubin which leads to hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice
Intravascular hemorrhage can be caused by what two mechanisms
immune; transfusion reaction
non-immune; mechanical trauma
What are three extrinsic defects that are immune related that can lead to extravascular hemolysis
autoimmune
erythroblastosis fetalis
transfusion reason
What are three intrinsic effects that are non-immine related that can cause extravascular hemolysis
RBC membrane defects
hemoglobinopathies
metabolic defects
What is characteristics of extravascular hemolysis
damaged/abnormal RBC are removed in the slpeed where it is broken down. Free hemoglobin is not released directly into the blood or urine but the breakdown products have increased (hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice)
This may occur due to extravascular hemolysis
hepatosplenomegaly; due to the buildup of RBC byproducts and removal
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic effects that cause hemolysis
intrinsic - usually inherited
extrinsic - acquired abnormalities
This intrinsic defect which causes hemolytic anemia is an abnormality of spectrin, a structural protein of the RBC cytoskeleton
hereditary spherocytosis
How does hereditary spherocytosis cause hemolytic anemia
the RBCs are less deformable and can’t squeeze through the splenic sinusoids, thus are sequestered and destroyed by the spleen
How does removal of the spleen aid hereditary spherocytosis
it results in normal red cell survival but not in normal morphology; the cells remain as spheres
What is the genetics behind sickle cell anemia, and intrinsic defect
hemoglobin S; single base pair amino acid substitution (valine for glutamic acid) at position 6 of the beta chain, but those affected are resistant to malaria
When does a sickle cell in SCA form
low oxygen tension induces hemoglobin S polymerization
What becomes of sickle cells
they are prone to splenic sequestration
can also becomes trapped in the microcirculation; leading to ischemia/infarction
What are the two leading causes of ischemia-related death in sickle cell anemia patients
actue chest syndrome
stroke