Normocytic Anemias with Predominant Extravascular Hemolysis Flashcards
An inherited defect in the RBC cytoskeleton membrane tethering proteins…
Hereditary Spherocytosis
What are the 3 most common cytoskeleton tethering proteins involved in hereditary spherocytosis?
Ankyrin
Spectrin
Band 3
Why does anemia result from hereditary spherocytosis?
Spherocytes are formed due to membrane blebing—this makes the RBCs less able to maneuver through splenic sinusoids, which leads to their destruction by the spleen
What is seen on the blood smear of a patient with hereditary spherocytosis?
Spherocytes with loss of central pallor
With respect to RDW and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), how does hereditary spherocytosis affect these values?
Increases both
MCHC—only disease where you’ll see this elevated EXCEPT for autoimmune anemia
What are the two most common clinical findings seen with hereditary spherocytosis?
Splenomegaly
Jaundice with unconjugated bilirubin
Patients with hereditary spherocytosis are at an increased risk of developing _______ due to extravascular hemolysis?
Bilirubin gallstones
Patients with hereditary spherocytosis are at an increased risk of ________ infection to the erythroid precursors, which causes what to occur?
Parvovirus B19—causing aplastic crisis
What test is used to diagnose hereditary spherocytosis?
Osmotic fragility test—reveals increased spherocyte fragility in hypotonic solution
What is the treatment for hereditary spherocytosis?
Splenectomy
Even after splenectomy to treat hereditary spherocytosis, what still remains and what is seen on blood spear?
Spherocytes still remain because spleen is not there to destroy them
Howell-Jolly bodies seen on blood smear due to left over fragments of DNA in RBCs, usually removed by spleen
Autosomal recessive mutation in B chain of hemoglobin—caused by a single amino acid change, glutamic acid→ valine…
Sickle cell anemia
Patients who are carries of sickle cell anemia have protection against________.
Falciparum malaria
What occurs to the RBCs causing them to sickle, in sickle cell anemia?
HbS polymerizes when deoxygenated—causing aggregation of the polymerized HbS→ sickled cells
What 3 things increase the risk of sickling of RBCs in sickle cell anemia?
Hypoxemia
Dehydration
Acidosis