Red blood cells Flashcards

1
Q

What is anaemia?

A

Reduction in red cell count or haemoglobin content of red cell count

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2
Q

What are general aetiologies to anaemia?

A

Bloof loss
Decreased production
Defective production
Increased destruction

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3
Q

What is a reticulocyte?

A

Immature red blood cell - not fully haemoglobinised

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4
Q

What metals are required for blood production?

A

Iron
Copper
Cobalt
Manganese

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5
Q

What vitamins are required for red cell production?

A
B12 
Folic acid
Thiamine
B6
C
E
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6
Q

What hormones are required to produce red cells?

A

Erythropoietin
GM-CSF
Androgens
Thyroxine

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7
Q

What is a normal red cell lifespan?

A

120 days

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8
Q

Where does red cell breakdown occur?

A

Spleen

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9
Q

What are red cells broken down to?

A

Globin - amino acids

Haem - iron - recycled into haemoglobin, haem - billirubin

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10
Q

What happens to billirubin after red cell breakdown?

A

Binds to albumin in the plasma

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11
Q

Where can genetic effects cause congenital anaemia?

A

Red cell membrane
Metabolic pathways - enzymes
In haemoglobin

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12
Q

What maintains the shape of red cells?

A

Skeletal proteins in the membrane

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13
Q

What is the commonest red cell membrane disorder?

A

Hereditary spherocytosis

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14
Q

Is hereditary spherocytosis autosomal dominant or recessive?

A

Dominant

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15
Q

What is clinical presentation of congenital anaemias?

A

Anaemia
Jaundice (neonatal)
Spenomegaly
Pigment gallstones

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16
Q

How do we treat hereditary spherocytosis?

A

Folic acid
Transfusion
Spenectomy if severe anaemia

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17
Q

What are rarer membrane disorders?

A

Hereditary elliptocytosis
Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis
South east asian ovalocytosis

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18
Q

What pathways are important in red cells?

A

Glycolytic pathway

Pentose phosphate shunt

19
Q

What is the purpose of the pentose phosphate shunt?

A

Protection from oxidative damage

20
Q

What enzymes can be affected in red cells leading to anaemia?

A

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Pyruvate kinase

21
Q

What happens to the cell in the absence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase?

A

Cell is vulnerable to oxidative damage

22
Q

Why is G6PD deficiency common in malarial areas?

A

Provides protection from malaria

23
Q

How does G6PD deficiency present?

A

Variable degrees of anaemia
Neonatal jaundice
Splenomegaly
Pigment gallstones

24
Q

Does illness affect red cell production?

25
What are triggers to haemolysis in G6PD deficiency?
Infection Acute illness Broad beans Drugs
26
What shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the left?
Decrease pH Increase in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate Increase in temperature
27
How many alpha and beta chains are in haemoglobin?
2 alpha | 2 beta
28
What happens to haemoglobin in the first year of life?
It is shifted from foetal haemoglobin to haemoglobin A by switching off gamma chains and switching on beta chains
29
What is haemoglobinopathy?
Abnormality of haemoglobin synthesis
30
What is reduced or absent globin chain prouction called?
Thalassaemia alpha or beta depending which chain is affected
31
What is sickle cell disease?
Point mutation of the beta globin chain
32
Is sickle cell disease autosomal recessive or dominant?
Recessive
33
What will be seen under the microscope in a patient with sickle cell?
Some normal cells | Some sickle cells
34
When do red cells sickle?
After deoxygenation
35
What happens to blood vessels in sickle cell patients?
Vaso-occlusion
36
What happens after haemolysis in sickle cell?
Endothelial activation Promotion of inflammation Coagulation activation Dysregulation of vasomotor tone by vasodilator mediatiors
37
What are systemic presentations of sickle cell?
Chest crisis Stroke Hyposplenism Gallstones
38
How is sickle cell managed?
Life long prophylaxis: Vaccination Penicillin and malarial prophylaxis Folic acid
39
How is acute event of sickle cell managed?
``` Hydration Oxygenation Prompt treatment of infection Analgesia Blood transfusion ```
40
What are clinical features of beta thalassaemia major?
``` Severe anaemia Present at 3-6 months of age Expansion of ineffective marrow Bony deformities Splenomegaly Growth retardation ```
41
What is life expectancy for untreated beta thalassaemia major?
<10 years
42
What are different types of thalassaemia?
Homozygous alpha zero thalassaemia Beta thalassaemia major Non-transfusion dependent thalassaemia Thalassasaemia minor
43
How is beta thalassaemia major treated?
Chronic transfusion 4-6 weekly Watch for iron overload - will kill if untreated Iron chelated - iron excreted
44
What drugs can be used for iron chelation therapy?
Desferal | Exjade