Introduction to Hematologic Pharmacology - Lecture 2

Question 1

What is the most common cause of chronic anemia?

Answer 1

iron deficiency

Question 2

What type of anemia does iron deficiency cause?

Answer 2

microcytic hypochromic anemia

Question 3

What molecule is iron critical for in oxygen delivery?

Answer 3

hemoglobin

Question 4

Where is iron usually obtained from?

Answer 4

iron is recycled from senescent or damaged erythrocytes

Question 5

Where is the most common place in men and postmenopausal women for bleeding to occur causing iron loss and anemia?

Answer 5

gastrointestinal tract

Question 6

What are the 3 populations that require higher than normal dietary iron intake?

Answer 6

pregnant women, adolescents, and menopausal women

Question 7

How is iron most efficiently absorbed, and what is the only way it should be administered?

Answer 7

as ferrous (Fe2+) iron administered as ferrous salts

Question 8

What are the 3 iron salts administered to patients?

Answer 8

• ferrous sulfate
• ferrous gluconate
• ferrous fumarate

Question 9

What percent of iron given orally as ferrous salt can be absorbed?

Answer 9

25%

Question 10

What dosage of elemental iron should be given daily to correct iron deficiency most rapidly (lower doses can be given for intolerant patients, but this results in slower correction)?

Answer 10

200-400 mg of iron (this is NOT the pill size)

Question 11

Once iron deficiency has been achieved, how much longer should oral iron be administered?

Answer 11

3-6 months to correct anemia and replenish iron stores

Question 12

What are the toxic effects of oral iron therapy, and how can this be overcome?

Answer 12

• nausea, epigastric discomfort, abdominal cramps, constipation, and diarrhea (usually black and often misdiagnosed as melena)