Introduction to Blood and Lymphoid

Question 1

Explain the findings of iron deficiency anemia on a blood smear.

Answer 1

• Area of centra pallor in RBCs is increased (it is more than the normal 1/3rd of diameter)
• This is due to less iron available for hemoglobin synthesis
• This is called also called hypochromic anemia

Question 2

Define erythrocytosis.What is its most common cause?

Answer 2

An increase in RBC mass in blood is called erythrocytosis.Most common cause is dehydration.It is important to know that there is no change in morphology of RBCs (like they are not bigger in size etc), they are just more concentrated.

Question 3

What pathologic feature is seen in blood in people with vitamin B12 deficiency?

Answer 3

Macrocytic anemia and hypersegmentation of neutrophils (>5 segments)

Question 4

What is the pathogenic mechanism of bleeding in vitamin K deficiency?

Answer 4

Knocks out the factors 2, 7, 9 and 10. These are procoagulent proteins in the coagulation cascade.