Iron Deficiency Anemia and Thalassemia (Exam 2)

Question 1

What are the 5 characteristics of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 1

low Fe intake | poor iron absorption | inadequate utilization | increase need for iron | excess blood loss

Question 2

What percent of adult women have iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 2

20%

Question 3

What percent of pregnant women have iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 3

50%

Question 4

What percent of adult males have iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 4

3%

Question 5

What percent of preschool kids have iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 5

30%

Question 6

What are the 4 causes of iron deficiency anemia? Which are the most common?

Answer 6

most common = pregnancy and infancy | dietary inadequacy | blood loss

Question 7

What are the 4 mild symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 7

fatigue | headache | dizziness | pallor

Question 8

What 2 symptoms of severe iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 8

koilonychia (concave nails) | smooth tongue (ice chewing)

Question 9

Why do some people with iron deficiency anemia crave pickles and other acidic foods?

Answer 9

acid increases iron absorption in stomach

Question 10

What is the differential diagnosis of early stage of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 10

asymtpomatic | normocytic and normochromic

Question 11

What is the differential diagnosis of late stage of iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 11

symptomatic | microcytic and hypochromic

Question 12

What is the proposed hypothesis for iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 12

decreased hemoglobinization fails to signal precursor RBC to stop dividing | RBCs divide more times than normal leading to smaller size

Question 13

What is the common treatment for iron deficiency anemia?

Answer 13

iron supplement tablets (except for thalassemia cases as it will kill the patient)

Question 14

When does thalassemia commonly manifest?

Answer 14

during childhood

Question 15

How does one get thalassemia?

Answer 15

commonly genetic - obtain family history

Question 16

How is iron reutilized and transferred from old RBCs for Hb synthesis?

Answer 16

Fe transferred from macrophage &raquo_space;> to plasma transferrin &raquo_space;> to BM –> erythroblasts

Question 17

How can alka-seltzer and other alkalis lead to iron deficiency?

Answer 17

alkaline reduces the absorption of iron

Question 18

How does a bacterial infection reduce the absorption of iron?

Answer 18

bacteria needs iron + other nutrients = decreasing iron intake will stop pathogen from proliferating and will be attacked by immune system

Question 19

What is the type of anemia a 2-3 y/o (with anemia) will most likely have?

Answer 19

iron deficiency anemia

Question 20

How does Thalassemia affect Hb synthesis? What is the consequence?

Answer 20

causes abnormal synthesis of polypeptides (alpha and beta chains) | have a lot of iron but cannot use it

Question 21

How can thalassemia lead to hemochromatosis?

Answer 21

heme cannot be used = accumulation of iron (in heme) &raquo_space;> accumulation of iron = hemachromatosis

Question 22

How can defect of transferrin lead to hemochromatosis?

Answer 22

no enzyme to transport iron (due to Abs attacking it or enzyme not working right) = iron stays and accumulates in the system because it is not being used