Lecture 17 - Red Blood Cell Disorders Flashcards
what is the definition of anemia?
reduction in red cell mass, with consequent decrease in oxygen transport capacity of the blood
what are the clinical parameters used in testing for anemia?
- Red cell count
- Hemoglobin concentration
- hematocrit
- All of these reflect but do not directly measure the red cell mass
Accepted “normal” levels for anemia vary with ____, ___, and _____ ______
age, sex, and geographic location
Anemia results in impaired tissue oxygenation and is manifested clinically by what three features?
- Exertional shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Pallor
what does polycythemia denote?
increase in red call mass
Anemias can be classified into three broad categories based on the mechanism in which red cell mass is decreased, what are the categories?
- Blood loss
- Decreased red cell production
- Decreased red cell survival
hemorrhage (acute), trauma (acute), GI or GYN disease (acute or chronic, occult blood loss) are examples of what category of anemia?
RBC (blood) loss
iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, aplastic anemia, and myelophthisic anemias is in what category of anemia?
decreased RBC production
mechanical trauma, transfusion reactions, hereditary spherocytosis, hemoglobinopathies, thalassemias, G6PD deficiency, erythroblastosis fetalis, malaria are in what category of anemia?
decreased RBC survival
young healthy subjects can tolerate rapid loss of how many mL with few symptoms, but some will have a vasovagal response - sweating, weakness, nausea, slow heart rate, hypotension
500-1000 mL (up to 15-20% of total blood volume)
If blood loss is controlled, interstitial fluid will redistribute within how many hours into the vascular space in an attempt to re-expand the vascular volume
within 24 hours
Red cell loss of 1000-1500 mL produces what side effects?
lightheadedness, orthostatic hypotension
when there is Red cell loss of 1500-2000 mL all patients are symptomatic and experience what side effects?
- thirst
- shortness of breath
- loss of consciousness
- sweating
- rapid pulse
- decreased blood pressure
- clammy skin
rapid loss of how may mL of RBC produces shock?
2000-2500 mL
The loss of RBC stimulates increased production, mediated by ______, resulting in an increase in the reticulocyte count in the peripheral blood
erythropoietin
chronic blood loss causes anemia when the rate of loss exceeds the capacity for RBC regeneration or when ___ reserves are depleted
iron
Chronic GI hemorrhage due to ulcer or neoplasm, or GYN hemorrhage (menorrhagia) are important causes of ____ deficiency
iron
hemolytic anemias are characterized by what
shortened red cell survival and retention of products of red cell destruction (iron)
increased erythropoietin production results in increased red cell production with a _____ to compensate for the anemia
reticulocytosis
In hemolytic anemias, red cell destruction can occur in what two areas?
within the circulation (intravascular hemolysis) or in the reticuloendothelial system including the spleen (extravascular hemolysis)
In intravascular hemolysis the destruction of RBC happens where?
within the circulation
Mechanical trauma (e.g. from a defective heart valve) and hemolytic transfusion reaction are examples of what type of hemolysis?
intravascular
Hemoglobin released from RBC into circulation (hemoglobinemia) is bound to ________, a binding protein and cleared from the circulation by the liver.
haptoglobin
When plasma hemoglobin levels exceed amount of available haptoglobin, free hemoglobin is excreted from where?
urine (hemoglobinuria)
Hemoglobin is toxic to the kidney, and iron that accumulates in what cells of the kidney as a breakdown product of hemoglobin is lost in the urine when these cells are shed (hemosiderinuria)
in the proximal tubular cells in the kidney
Conversion of heme (derived from hemoglobin) to bilirubin leads to what two clinical side effects
hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice
The degree of jaundice is dependent on what?
the functional capacity of the liver and rate of hemolysis
*Levels of haptoglobin are characteristically low
what is Extravascular hemolysis?
destruction of RBC in reticuloendothelial system (spleen, liver)
hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell anemia, erythroblastosis fetalis (antibody-mediated hemolytic disease of the newborn) are examples of what?
Extravascular hemolysis
Damaged or abnormal RBC are removed where?
spleen - where hemoglobin is broken down intracellularly
in extravascular hemolysis, free hemoglobin is not released directly into the blood and urine, but are hemoglobin breakdown products increased or decreased and what side effect can result?
products are increased (hyperbilirubinemia) and jaundice may result
In extravascular hemolysis, spleen and liver may become enlarged for what reasons?
these are sites of removal of RBC from the circulation
in extravascular hemolysis chronically elevated levels of bilirubin can promote formation of what?
gallstones
Hemolytic anemias are classified by the mechanism of red cell destruction into intrinsic defects (hemoglobin production, membrane abnormality) which are usually ________, and extrinsic defects (antibody, mechanical trauma) which are usually _____ _____
intrinsic defects which are usually INHERITED and extrinsic defects which are usually ACQUIRED abnormalities
hereditary spherocytosis is extravascular hemolysis and an example of what type of intrinsic defect
membrane defect