RBC Abnormalities Flashcards
RBC production
Erythropoiesis
Functions of blood
1 Transports nutrients, waste products, hormones, and oxygen
2 Regulates fluid, electrolytes, and acid-base balance
3 Protects
RBC production is controlled by ______
Erythropoietin
Destruction of RBCs
Hemolysis
Where are RBCs destroyed?
Spleen
Where are RBCs synthesized?
Kidney
Causes of anemia
Decreased erythrocyte production
Erythrocyte loss
Normal RBC diameter
7-8 um
Normal RBC thickness
2-5 um
Normal RBC volume
90 fl
Normal RBC surface area
160 um
Morphologic alterations in erythrocytes
Distribution Hemoglobin concentration Size Shape Inclusions Morphology Parasites
Normal distribution of RBCs
Even distribution in the thin portion (1/3)
No overlapping
Abnormal distribution
Rouleaux
When does abnormal distribution of RBCs happen?
Increased serum proteins (fibrinogen and globulins)
Abnormal distribution of RBCs is seen in:
Hyperproteinemia Multiple myeloma Increased fibrinogen Infection Necrosis Pregnancy
Own RBCs agglutinate in own serum or plasma
Autoagglutination
Autoagglutination is seen in:
Hemolytic anemia Atypical pneumonia Mycoplasma infection Staphylococcal infection Trypanosomiasis
Clumping at temperatures below 25 C
Cold agglutinin
Alterations in erythrocyte color or hemoglobin content
Normochromic Hypochromic Hyperchromasia Polychromasia Anisochromia
Variation in hemoglobin content
Anisochromia
Contain normal amount of hemoglobin
Normochromic cells
Very pale and show an increased area of central pallor (making up more than 1/3 of the cell)
Hypochromic cells
Seen as decreased MCV or microcytosis
Hypochromic cells
Hypochromic RBCs are characteristic of:
Iron deficiency anemias
Infections such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic infection, and inflammation (defective macrophage release of iron)
Hyperchromasia is seen in
Macrocytes
Spherocytes
Homogeneous color of RBC (at least 2/3)
Hyperchromasia
Hyperchromasia is true if ________
MCHC is elevated
Blue RNA and red hemoglobin
Polychromasia
Increased reticulocyte count
Polychromasia
Polychromasia is seen in:
Hemolytic anemias
Alterations in erythrocyte size
Anisocytosis
Macrocytosis
Microcytosis
Increased variation in the size of RBCs
Anisocytosis
Mean cell diameter and MCV of macrocytes
> 9 um and > 100 fl
Macrocytosis is seen in:
Megaloblastic anemias of B12 or folic acid deficiency Alcoholism without liver disease Cancer chemotherapy Chronic hemolytic anemia Myeloma Leukemia Lymphoma Metastatic carcinoma Hypothyroidism
Erythrocyte maturing factor
Vitamin B12
Drugs causing megaloblastic anemia
Methotrexate (cancer) AZT (Ziodovudine) Phenytoin (Folate deficiency) Liver disease drugs Ethanol
Diameter and MCV of microcytes
< 6.5 um and < 78 fl
A characteristic of iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, lead poisoning, sideroblastic anemia, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, anemias of chronic diseases
Microcytosis
RBC is thinner and has a colorless center
Leptocyte
Alterations in erythrocyte shape
Discocyte Poikilocytosis Elliptocyte and Ovalocyte Sickle Cell (Drepanocyte) Target Cell (Codocyte) Spherocyte Stomatocyte Schistocyte (Fragmented Cell, Helmet Cell) Tear Drop (Dacrocyte) Burr Cell, Crenated (Echinocyte) Acanthocyte (Spike Cell, Acanthoid Cell) Keratocyte (Horn Cell)
Red cell with a normal shape
Discocyte
General term indicating an increased variation in the shape of RBCs
Poikilocytosis
Causes of poikilocytosis
Structural and biochemical changes in cell membrane Metabolic state Hemoglobin molecule abnormalities Abnormal microenvironment Red cell age
Poikilocytes due to Vitamin B12 or Folate Deficiency
Oval macrocytes
Oval or egg-shaped seen in megaloblastic anemias
Elliptocyte and ovalocyte
Other term for sickle cell
Drepanocyte