Hemoglobinopathies Flashcards
Hemoglobinopathies
Qualitative or Quantitative Abnormalities in the syntesis of hemoglobin
Thalassemia
Quantitative abnormalities resulting in decrease in production of globin chains in hemoglobin
Intracorpuscular defects
Hemoglobinopothies
- Defects in RBC membrane
- Defects in Metabolic Enzymes
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Abnormal Hemoglobins - genetics
Most abnormalities arise from a single amino acid substitution and express co-dominance
Homozygous is almost always affects more
Disease
Heterozygous, may have slight, if any, clinical symptoms
Trait
Hemoglobin S structure
2 Alpha chains
2 Beta(6) Glu -> Val
Sickle cell
group of genetic disorders caracterized by the producion ot abnormal Hemoglobin S
most common severe hemoglobinopathy worldwide
Sickle Cell
Beta chain 6th position:
Valine substitutes glutamic acid
Homozygous inheritance = SS
A2 B2 ^6Glu-Val
Heterozygous inheritance = SA
A2 B1 B1 ^ 6Glu-Val
Hemoglobin S has no problem when
oxygenated
sickle cell anemia in the body
- Low O2 tension, pH, or hydration,
- Hgb S polymerizes
- Polymers form long, thin fibers causing RBC to become inflexible and rigid
- RBC sickles
- RBC sickling (RBC sickling is reversible up to a point)
- Repeated sickling damages RBC membrane permeability
- Hgb S polymers cause abnormal cation homeostasis leading to sickle cell dehydration
- cells become dehydrated, dense, irreversibly sickled cells
- leads to hemolytic anemia and cases of vaso-occlusion
Vasooclusion further lowers the pH and O2 tension, leads to..
- Increased sickle cells
- results in tissue damage, painful crisis and infarction of organs
Sickle cell anemia is a…
normocytic, normochromic hemolytic anemia
vaso-occlusions
ischemic tissue injury
organs at greatest risk (Sickle cell anemia)
Spleen, kidney, and BM
- blood flow is slowed through sinuses
- O2 tension and pH are decreased
3 sickle cell anemia crisis
- Aplastic
- Vaso-occlusive
- Hemolytic
Sickle cell anemia - Aplastic crisis
- temporary suppression of erythopoiesis - often initated from infections (esp. parvoviruses)
- BM becomes overworked and decrease in production
1. Since RBC is already shortened (10-20 days)
2. any decrease in RBC production results in anemia - Reticulocyte count decreased
- Often spontaneous recovery within 5-10 days (usually self-limiting)
Treatment option: Transfusion
Aplastic crisis
Decresed reticulocyte count
Sickle Cell Anemia - Hemolytic crisis
Acute exarbation of anemia
- caused by acute splenic sequestration (sickled cells pooling in spleen)
Spleen is enlarged and can develop mutliple infarctions/fibrosis
- leads to “autosplenectomy” aka functional asplenia
1. spleen becomes small, fibrotic and nonfunctional
Resticulocyte Count INCREASED - BM is responding
SS - hemolytic crisis symptoms
- Sudden weakness
- rapid pulse
- faintness
- pallor of the lips and mucous membranes
- abdominal fullness
- jaundice
SS - Vaso-occlusive crisis
“Hallmark of sickle cell anemia”
Occlusion of small blood vessels -> tissue damage and necrosis
Time span: 4-6 days but can persist for weeks
symptoms - PAIN
Worsened with infectiction, fever, acidosis, dehydration and exposure to extreme cold..
- children are prone to encapsulated organisms
Sickle cell anemia - Vaso-occlusive crisis treatment
- adequate rehydration
- pain relief
- antibiotic therapy if infection is present
- Severe cases –> exchange transfusion
Sickle cell anemia complications
- Acute Chest syndrome
- Cutaneous Manifestations
- Dactylitis
- Hand - foot syndrome
- Infections
- stroke
SS anemia - Acute Chest Syndrome
- occlusion in the pulmonary microvasculature
- 2nd most common cause of hospital admissions in SS patients
Characterized by fever, chest pain, hypxia, and pulmonary infiltrates
Often caused by an infectious agent in children
- higher incidence of acute chest syndrome, lower mortality rate