Red blood cells Flashcards
What is anaemia?
Reduction in red cell count or haemoglobin content of red cell count
What are general aetiologies to anaemia?
Bloof loss
Decreased production
Defective production
Increased destruction
What is a reticulocyte?
Immature red blood cell - not fully haemoglobinised
What metals are required for blood production?
Iron
Copper
Cobalt
Manganese
What vitamins are required for red cell production?
B12 Folic acid Thiamine B6 C E
What hormones are required to produce red cells?
Erythropoietin
GM-CSF
Androgens
Thyroxine
What is a normal red cell lifespan?
120 days
Where does red cell breakdown occur?
Spleen
What are red cells broken down to?
Globin - amino acids
Haem - iron - recycled into haemoglobin, haem - billirubin
What happens to billirubin after red cell breakdown?
Binds to albumin in the plasma
Where can genetic effects cause congenital anaemia?
Red cell membrane
Metabolic pathways - enzymes
In haemoglobin
What maintains the shape of red cells?
Skeletal proteins in the membrane
What is the commonest red cell membrane disorder?
Hereditary spherocytosis
Is hereditary spherocytosis autosomal dominant or recessive?
Dominant
What is clinical presentation of congenital anaemias?
Anaemia
Jaundice (neonatal)
Spenomegaly
Pigment gallstones
How do we treat hereditary spherocytosis?
Folic acid
Transfusion
Spenectomy if severe anaemia
What are rarer membrane disorders?
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Hereditary pyropoikilocytosis
South east asian ovalocytosis
What pathways are important in red cells?
Glycolytic pathway
Pentose phosphate shunt
What is the purpose of the pentose phosphate shunt?
Protection from oxidative damage
What enzymes can be affected in red cells leading to anaemia?
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
Pyruvate kinase
What happens to the cell in the absence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase?
Cell is vulnerable to oxidative damage
Why is G6PD deficiency common in malarial areas?
Provides protection from malaria
How does G6PD deficiency present?
Variable degrees of anaemia
Neonatal jaundice
Splenomegaly
Pigment gallstones
Does illness affect red cell production?
Yes