(MHD) Lecture 13- Anemia I

Question 1

Name the (2) key components of the RBC cytoskeleton.

Answer 1

1. Spectrin
2. Ankyrin

Question 2

What is the pathophysiology of sideroblastic anemia? What kind of anemia do we see? How do the cells look under microscope? What causes this type of anemia?

Answer 2

• There is decreased protoporphyrin synthesis
• This leads to a microcytic anemia (missing component of hemoglobin)
• Leads to build up of iron in the cell mitochondria (no porphyrin to bind to) and associated ringed sideroblasts
• Caused by 1. Alcoholism (mitochondrial poison) 2. Lead posioning (stops ALAD function and iron attachment) 3. Vitamin B6 deficiency (cofactor for ALAS)