Quiz 1 Flashcards
Define anemia:
A decrease in the body’s ability to carry oxygen
What are some symptoms an anemic patient might notice?
Symptoms related to oxygen carrying capacity; like shortness of breath, palpitations and fatigue
About how long will a RBC remain in circulation? Where does it go to be destroyed?
3 months; the spleen
Hgb levels in an adult male below what level may be indicative of anemia?
13.5 g/dL
Hgb levels in an adult female below what level may be indicative of anemia?
12.0 g/dL
A nutritional deficiency may be indicated by what finding on a CBC?
A high RDW
A B12 or folate deficiency may be indicated by a CBC finding of an MCV above what level?
110
A CBC finding of an MCV below 70 may suggest what condition?
Thalassemia
What product is made in the first step in heme synthesis?
Delta- aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA)
What enzyme is responsible for creating CO?
Heme oxygenase
What is the main goal of secondary hemostasis?
Make fibrin
What is the most important ECM component for platelet adhesion?
Collagen
What effect do ADP and TxA2 have after binding platelet surface receptors?
Promotion of granule release from platelets
What is the goal of primary hemostasis?
Formation of a platelet plug
What is a factor inhibitor (in context of a mixing study)?
An antibody directed against a clotting factor
Coagulation: Short & Lucky
Extrinsic pathway: 7 activates X
Coagulation: TENET
Intrinsic pathway: Twelve -> Eleven -> Nine -> Eight -> Ten
What cofactor is used by factor X in the coagulation cascade?
Factor V
What is the primary purpose of thrombin?
To convert fibrinogen to fibrin
Approximately how small of a deletion can be detected by FISH?
1Mb
aCGH or array CGH can provide how small of a resolution for genetic testing?
50-100 kb, sometimes less
What does the acronym SpPin stand for?
Specificity in a Positive test result help to rule IN a test
What does the acronym SnNout stand for?
Sensitivity in a Negative test result helps to rule OUT a test
delta-ALA synthase synthesizes delta-ALA from what two substrates?
succinyl-CoA and glycine
Why can X-linked sideroblastic anemia often be cured by high doses of vitamin B6?
High levels of vitamin B6 encourage high levels of pyridoxal phosphate, which can stabilize the active site of delta-ALA synthase
What is the name of the enzyme that catalyzes the last step in heme synthesis?
ferrochelatase
If a 1 day old neonate is found to have a fever of 38.5 C, they are at risk for hypoglycemia. Why?
On average, humans can experience a 12% increase in metabolic rate per increase of 1C, placing neonates especially at higher risk for hypoglycemia
Where do enzymes bind substrates?
the active site
Of Vmax Km and kcat, which vary with enzyme concentration?
Vmax only
What are the two common mechanisms for enzyme regulation?
post-translational modification and binding of activators/inhibitors
What are the most common primary causes of hypercoagulability?
Favtor V Leiden, Prothrombin mutations, or increased levels of clotting factors
What are the components of the Virchow triad?
Endothelial injury, abnormal blood flow, and hypercoagulability
How do you calculate the likelihood ratio +?
Sensitivity / 1- specificity
How do you calculate the likelihood ratio -?
Specificity / 1 - sensitivity
Why is double-stranded DNA more soluble than single stranded DNA?
The hydrophobic bases are paired and not as exposed to a hydrophillic environment
How can PCR help detect translocations of a DNA sequence?
PCR will only give product if the left and right primer are on the same chromsome; thus two primers on different chromsomes will only produce product if a translocation occurs
What are the four most common microcytic anemias?
iron deficiency anemia (IDA), anemia of chronic disease (ACD), thalassemias, and sideroblastic anemia
What is the expected MCV for a microcytic anemia?
less than 80
What chief issue underlies a sideroblastic anemia?
Deficiency in protoporphyrin
What is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world?
iron deficiency
Where does absorption of iron occur?
the duodenum
What transporter do enterocytes use to move absorbed iron into the blood?
ferroportin
Where does transferrin principally transport iron?
the liver as well as bone marrow macrophages
What 4 lab tests provide the best measurements of iron status?
serum iron, serum ferritin, TIBC, and % saturation
What is a normal % saturation level for transferrin?
about 33%
Rank ferric iron (Fe3+), ferrous iron (Fe2+) and heme iron from most to least bioavailable
Heme iron > ferrous iron > ferric iron
When ferritin in the body decreases, what will increase to compensate?
TIBC (transferrin)
Is the very early stage of IDA normocytic or microcytic?
Normocytic
What are three clinical features of IDA?
Anemia, koilonychia, and pica
What condition is indicated by the following lab findings?
Iron deficiency anemia
What is FEP?
Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin
Why would FEP be elevated in IDA?
Inability to produce sufficient heme groups results in an excess of protoporphyrin rings floating freely
How is IDA treated?
Treating the cause of the iron deficiency (hookworm, cancer, etc) or supplemental iron (ferrous sulfate)
What is Plummer-Vinson syndrome?
IDA additionally associated with esophageal web and atrophic glossitis; pt presents with anemia, dysphagia and a beefy-red tongue
What condition is described by chronic inflammation causing Hepcidin to sequester iron in storage sites, limiting iron transfer from macrophages to erythroid precursors?
Anemia of chronic disease
Why is Hepcidin upregulated in ACD?
The body responds to chronic inflammation by hiding the iron from perceived pathogen invasion
What condition would be associated with the following lab findings?
Anemia of chronic disease
How would ACD be treated?
Treat the underlying cause of disease, occasionally EPO treatment can be helpful (like in cancer patients)
Defects in production of heme (Fe or protoporphyrin) will lead to what type of anemia?
microcytic
What enzyme catalyzes the first step of heme synthesis?
ALA synthase
What is the substrate and product of the reaction with ALA synthase?
succinyl CoA; ALA
What cofactor is especially necessary for ALA synthase function?
vitamin B6
What enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the reaction between protopoyrphyrin and Fe?
ferrochelatase
Where does the final step of heme synthesis occur in the cell?
the mitochondria
How does protoporphyrin deficiency lead to ringed sideroblasts?
Iron is brought into the mitochondria, and deficient protoporphyrin leads to trapped excess iron, which accumlates in the mitochondria (which surround the nucleus) leading to a ring structure
What is the most common form of congenital sideroblastic anemia?
A congenital defect in ALA synthase
What are the most common causes of acquired sideroblastic anemia?
alcoholism, lead poisoning, and vitamin B6 deficiency
What condition would be associated with the following lab findings?
Sideroblastic anemia
Why is ferritin found to be high in sideroblastic anemia?
Iron overloaded cells will lyse, and macrophages will eat the excess iron, and store it as ferritin; these findings are SIMILAR in hemochromatosis
What condition would be associated with the following lab findings?
Thalassemia (need more information to specify which)
What specific type of disease are thalassemia carriers protected against?
Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Which subunits comprise fetal hemoglobin (HbF)?
Which subunits comprise HbA?
Which subunits comprise HbA2?
What are the three normal types of hemoglobin?
HbF, HbA, HbA2
How many alleles of alpha hemoglobin exist in a normal genome? Where are they located?
4 (two per chromsome); chromsome 16
What is the most common genetic mutation causing alpha-thalassemia?
gene deletion
What is a cis deletion in alpha-thalassemia?
When 2 copies of the alpha HgB allele that are knocked out are on the same chromosome
What is a trans deletion in alpha-thalassemia?
When 2 copies of the alpha HgB allele that are knocked out are on opposite chromosomes
In what geographic population are cis deletions in alpha-thalassemia seen?
Asians
In what geographic population are trans deletions in alpha-thalassemia seen?
Africa
Is the cis or trans deletion in alpha thalassemia associated with a more severe risk of anemia in offspring? why?
Cis deletion; because both deletions are on one chromsome, and that chromsome could pass both deletions on to offspring
What characteristics would be seen in alpha thalassemia with a 3 gene deletion?
What comprises HbH? What is the pathology?
a tetramer of beta-chain HgB; defective alpha chains/lack of alpha chains leads to tetramerization of beta-chain dimers
What occurs in a 4 gene deletion of the alpha thalassemia alleles?
What is Hb Barts?
a tetramer of gamma HgB chains
How many beta hemoblogin alleles exist in the normal human genome? Where are they located?
two (one on each chromsome); chromsome 11
What are characteristics of beta thalassemia minor (B/B+)?
What are normal hemoglobin concentrations in an adult?
HbA- 96.5%
HbA2- 2.5%
HbF- 1%
What electrophoresis findings would be significant in beta-thalassemia minor?
HbA2 increased to about 5%
What are common characteristics of beta-thalassemia major (Bo/Bo)?
Lack of beta HgB will lead to a tetramer of what type of HgB?
an alpha tetramer
What are two significant effects of alpha HgB tetramerization?
ineffective erythropoiesis and and extravascular hemolysis (destruction by spleen)
What is Massive erythroid hyperplasia?
expansion of hematopoeisis into marrow of skull and facial bones (extramedullary hematopoeisis) clinical appearance is nicknamed “chipmonk face”
What is parvovirus B19?
a virus that infects and shuts down erythroid precursors (usually lasts 1-2 weeks)