Thalassemias (DiPaola L1) Flashcards
Which Hb genes are primarilly expressed as a fetus? (week 6 - birth)
Where are the Hb produced during fetal life?
alpha
gamma (beta-like)
HbF
Liver–> Spleen–> Bone Marrow
Which hemoglobin genes are expressed in the first few weeks of life? (0 - 6 wks)
Where is is produced?
Epsilon (beta-like)
Zeta (alpha-like)
–> Gower 1, Gower 2, Portland
yolk salk
Which Hb genes are primarily expressed after birth?
Where is this Hb produced?
Which Hb is expressed in small amounts after birth?
Primarily
alpha & beta
Bone Marrow
small amts: gamma
What does the delta (beta-like) Hb gene do?
produced in very small amts as an adult
likely a evolutionary remnant
HbA_2
What are the structural hemoglobinopathies?
What sort of mutations cause these?
Point mutations
HbS Glu6Val
HbC Glu6Lys
HbE Glu26Lys
HbS
loss of function? gain? etc?
Novel Function
polymerization of the Hb molecules
What is the histological change that you see in HbC?
What is the clinical presentation?
Crystalization of the hemoglobin in a blood smear.
Can get more infections (give penicillin)
often called HbC trait b/c no other symptoms
According to the formal definition of Thalassemia, what is the problem?
reduced rate of production of one or more chains of Hb.
** abnormal ratio of Hb chain production
defective Hb production & damage to the red blood cells and their precursors
What deletion causes HbH?
3-gene deletion of Hb alpha
What deletion(s) cause alpha thalassemia trait?
alpha-thal 1: deletion of both alphas on one homologue
alpha-thal 2: deletion of one alpha on each homologue
Which alpha hemoglobin gene deletion is clinically insignificant?
if only one of the 4 alpha genes is deleted.
What is Gamma thalassemia?
clinically significant only at birth; no longer a problem at about 6 months of age.
Gamma Hb is a beta-like Hb so eventually beta proper will take over and the gamma deletion is not a problem.
What is delta thalassemia?
By itself is not a problem because delta is a beta-like hb so beta will take over anyway.
if, however you have a delta-beta deletion, now its a problem.
What are normal Hb levels?
all units are gm/dL Newborns: 17-22 1 week: 15-20 1 month: 11-15 children: 11-13 adult male: 14-18 adult female: 12-16 geriatric male: 12.4 - 14.9 geriatric female: 11.7 - 13.8
So basically if you have in the single digits its Low, upper teens (dep on gender) or higher is High
What is the reticulocyte count and a normal value?
immature red blood cells
blood levels should be low 1-3%
0 is bad and higher levels indicate lots of red blood cell production