Red Blood Cell Disorders Flashcards
Polycythemia
-Dramatic increase in RBC numbers
-Incases blood viscosity, causes hemorrhages, hypertension, coagulation problems, excessive distension of blood vessel
-Heart has to work harder
-Blood removal, irradiation of blood, chemotherapy to suppress RBC production
Anemia
-Inadequate numbers of RBC’s= deficiency in the production of normal hemoglobin
-Fatigue, weakness, pale skin, headaches, faintness
-Symptoms are caused by body’s attempt compensate for low tissue oxygen levels by speeding up the heart and respiratory rates/homeostatsis
Hemorrhagic Anemia
-Decrease in RBCs because of hemorrhage or bleeding
-acute= short lived, bloody nose
-Chronic=bleeding continuously, stomach ulcers, colon cancer
-Transfusion of whole blood
Aplastic Anemia
-high dose exposure to toxic chemicals causes bone destruction, inhibiting ability to make marrow
-death rates reaching 70% at 3-4 month diagnossis
-bone marrow or stem cell transplants
Pernicious Anemia
-dietary deficiency of vitamin B12, or failure of stomach lining to produce “intrinsic factor” that allows B12 to be absorbed
-impairs bone marrow= decreases RBC, WBC, platelet numbers
-low oxygen delivery to tissues
-numbness tingling, burning in the hands and feet, mental impairment
-Repeated injections of B12 vitamins
Iron Deficiency Anemia
-Deficiency of iron required for hemoglobin synthesis (doesn’t affect RBCs, but the amount of hemoglobin in blood)
-RBC numbers are slightly below normal
-Cells appear small and pale due to the reduction in hemoglobin
-Oral administration of iron
Hemolytic Anemias
-Distortion of RBCs because of abnormal hemoglobin
-decreases life span of RBCs
-Body retains breakdown of excess products from RBCs, like iron and pigments=jaundice
-Swelling of the spleen, problems associated with excess iron storage
-Gallstone formation
-Preventative measures to reduce dehydration and infection
-Limited use of blood transfusions to treat episodes of crisis
Sickle Cell Anemia
-Formation of abnormal type of hemoglobin called sickle hemoglobin, which distorts the shape of the RBCs
-Reduction in blood flow, clotting, severe pooling of red cells
-preventative measures to reduce dehydration
-blood transfusions
Thalassemia Minor
-The trait of thalassemia is inherited when only one defective gene is inherited
-Production of abnormal hemoglobin and inadequate numbers of small RBC’s that are short lived
Thalassemia Major
