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Fundamentals in Pathology > Red blood cells: production and survival > Flashcards

Red blood cells: production and survival Flashcards

1
Q

What does haematinic refer to? [4 marks]

A

Iron, vitmin B12, folate in red blood cell.

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2
Q

What are the first recognisable erythrocyte precursors on the bone marrow? [1 mark]

A

Proerythroblasts

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3
Q

Why is the cytoplasm of an erythrocyte basophilic? [1 mark]

A

Polyribosome

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4
Q

Why can hypoxia be caused by? [3 marks]

A
  • Low erythrocyte count
  • Decreased levels of haemoglobin
  • Decreased availability of oxygen
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5
Q

What does erythropoietin do? [1 mark]

A

Stimulates red bone marrow to increase erythropoiesis

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6
Q

Which foods are sources of iron? [4 marks]

A
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Vegetables
  • Dairy food
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7
Q

How is iron absorbed? [2 marks]

A
  • 5-10% absorbed in the duodenum and jejeunum

- Divalent metal transporter 1 and ferroportin transport iron from the duodenum and jejunum

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8
Q

What causes iron deficiency? [3 marks]

A
  • Decreased uptake
  • Increased demand
  • Increased loss
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9
Q

How disease can cause malabsorption of iron? [1 mark]

A

Celiac disease (villi of the small intestine is damaged)

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10
Q

What is mean cell volume and how is that calculated? [2 marks]

A
  • The average volume of each red blood cell

- The ratio of haematocrit to the red blood cells count.

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11
Q

What does low mean cell volume mean? [1 mark]

A

Microcytic anaemia

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12
Q

What is vitamin B12 and folic acid needed for? [3 marks]

A
  • RBC maturation
  • DNA synthesis
  • Formation of thymidine triphosphate
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13
Q

What is vitamin B12 a coenzyme for? [1 mark]

A

Methionine synthase

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14
Q

What is intrinsic factor and where is it produced? [2 marks]

A
  • A glycoprotein produced in the stomach

- Binds to Vitamin B12 and takes it to the ileum

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15
Q

What is the cause if folate deficiency? [4 marks]

A
  • Inadequate intake
  • Absroption defect (i.e. coeliac, Crohn’s, Tropical sprue)
  • Increased demands/losses
  • Drugs
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16
Q

How do anticonvulsants cause folate deficiency? [1 mark]

A

They affect its absorption

17
Q

What happens to erythrocytes in folate & B12 deficiency? [3 marks]

A
  • Megaloblastic anaemia (large, nucleated immature progenitor)
  • Macroovalocytes (large, oval RBC)
  • Hypersegmented neutrophil
18
Q

Which foods can you get vitamin B12 and folate? [4 marks]

A

VITAMIN B12: Animal produce

FOLATE: Liver, greens and yeast

19
Q

What are the daily requirements and of vitamin B12 and folate? [2 marks]

A

VITAMIN B12: 1-2μg

FOLATE: 100-150μg

20
Q

How much vitamin B12 and folate is stored in the body? [2 marks]

A

VITAMIN B12: 2-3μg

FOLATE: 100-150μg

21
Q

Where is vitamin B12 and folate stored? [3 marks]

A

VITAMIN B12: Ileum

FOLATE: Duodenum & jejunum

22
Q

How is vitamin B12 and folate transported in plasma? [2 marks]

A

VITAMIN B12: Bound to TCII and transported

FOLATE: It weakly binds to albumin

23
Q

What else affects red blood cell production? [3 marks]

A
  • Renal disease (affects erythropoiesis)
  • Aplastic anaemia (failure of RBC production in bone marrow)
  • Leukaemia
24
Q

How is haemolytic anaemia classified? [3 marks]

A
  • Hereditary/Congenital vs. Acquired
  • Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic
  • Intravascular vs. Extravascular
25
Q

What causes hereditary spherocytosis? [1 mark]

A

Mutations in one of the peripheral proteins (Spectrin, ankyrin, protein 4.1, actin)

26
Q

What causes hereditary elliptocytosis? [2 marks]

A
  • A mutation in spectrin

- Causes defective spectrin-ankyrin association

27
Q

What does glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase do? [2 marks]

A
  • Catalyses production of NADPH, which reduces glutathione

- Important in the pentose phosphate pathway

28
Q

What does pyruvate kinase do? [3 marks]

A
  • Produces ATP and pyruvate
  • ATP maintains shape, flexibility and cation pumps of RBCs
  • Important in glycolytic pathway
29
Q

How is glucose for RBCs produced? [2 marks]

A
  • Glycolytic pathway: produces 90%

- Pentose phosphate pathway: produces 10%

30
Q

What happens in G6PD deficiency? [2 marks]

A
  • Oxidative damage to RBCs and haemolysis

- Heinz bodies (inclusions of denatured Hb)

31
Q

What benefit can G6PD deficiency have? [1 mark]

A

Protection against malaria

32
Q

What happens in PK deficiency? [4 marks]

A
  • Cation pumps fail to function
  • RBC lose a lot of potassium and water
  • Causes chronic non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia
  • Excess haemolysis leads to jaundice
33
Q

What is extravascular haemolysis? [2 marks]

A
  • Haemolysis in macrophage

- Normal

34
Q

What is intravascular haemolysis? [2 marks]

A
  • Haemolysis in bloodstream

- Abnormal

Fundamentals in Pathology (11 decks)

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