The Immune System Common Anemias

Question 1

Serious form of anemia associated with bone marrow failure, resulting in erythropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia

Answer 1

Aplastic anemia

Question 2

Causes of aplastic anemia

Answer 2

autoimmune disorders, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, exposure to certain cytotoxic agents

Question 3

Inability to produce sufficient RBCs because of the lack of folic acid, a B vitamin essential for erythropoiesis.

Answer 3

Folic-acid deficiency anemia

Question 4

Causes of folic-acid deficiency anemia

Answer 4

poor diet, impaired absorption, prolonged drug therapy, increased requirements (pregnancy, growth spurts)

Question 5

Destruction of RBCs, commonly resulting in jaundice

Answer 5

Hemolytic anemia

Question 6

Causes of hemolytic anemia

Answer 6

inherited immune and blood disorders, medications, incompatible transfusions

Question 7

Lack of sufficient iron in RBCs

Answer 7

Iron-deficiency anemia

Question 8

Causes of iron-deficiency anemia

Answer 8

inadequate dietary iron intake, malabsorption of iron

Question 9

Chronic, progressive anemia found mostly in people older than age 50 resulting from a lack of sufficient vitamin B12 needed for blood cell development

Answer 9

Pernicious anemia (PA)

Question 10

Causes of Pernicious anemia

Answer 10

insufficient intrinsic factor in the stomach essential for vitamin B12 absorption

Question 11

Inherited anemia that causes RBCs to become crescent- or sickle-shaped when oxygen levels are low

Answer 11

Sickle cell anemia

Question 12

Causes of sickle-cell anemia

Answer 12

defect in gene responsible for hemoglobin synthesis