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Patho 2 > Week 1: Hematologic Disorders > Flashcards

Week 1: Hematologic Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What do erythrocytes (RBCs) actually do?

A

Responsible for oxygen transport via hemoglobin

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2
Q

What disorders are caused by alterations in RBCs such as production, function, or life span of RBC?

A

Anemia and Polycythemia

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3
Q

What is anemia?

A

A decrease in the total number of circulating RBCs
OR
A reduction in hemoglobin levels leading to decreased oxygen carrying capacity

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4
Q

How can we classify anemia?

A

By size of RBC (volume)
By Hemoglobin content
By Pathophysiological cause

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5
Q

What are the 4 different sizes of RBCs and what do they mean?

A

Macrocytic: Large RBCs (B12 or folic acid deficiency)

Normocytic: Normal sized RBCs (blood loss or chronic disease)

Microcytic: Small RBCs (iron deficiency anemia)

Anisocytosis: Variations in RBC size (multiple deficiencies or evolving anemia)

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6
Q

What are the 2 different hemoglobin content classifications?

A

Normochromic: Normal hemoglobin concentration in RBCs

Hypochromic: RBCs appear pale due to low hemoglobin content (iron deficiency anemia)

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7
Q

What are the 3 different pathophysiological causes?

A

Decreased RBC production due to nutritional deficiencies or bone marrow failure

Increased RBC desaturation due to genetics or immune mediated destruction

Blood loss (acute or chronic haemorrhage) leads to iron deficiency

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8
Q

What are the 5 different types of anemia?

A

Iron deficiency (most common)

Macrocytic (B12 or folic acid deficiency)

Hemolytic anemias (sickle cell or HDN)

Aplastic Anemia (Bone marrow failure)

Anemia of Chronic Disease (chronic inflammation)

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9
Q

How does iron deficiency anemia happen?

A

Caused by lower dietary intake, chronic blood loss, and malabsorption syndromes

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10
Q

What are two symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?

A

Glossitis (inflamed tongue) and Koilonychia (spoon shaped nails)

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11
Q

How does macrocytic anemia occur?

A

Caused by defective DNA synthesis, leading to enlarged immature RBCs

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12
Q

How does Hemolytic anemia occur?

A

Characterized by premature RBC destruction due to intrinsic causes like genes and extrinsic causes such as infections, autoimmune disorders and drugs)

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13
Q

How does sickle cell anemia (hemolytic anemia) occur?

A

Autosomal recessive disorder leads to the production of abnormal S shaped hemoglobin (HbS)

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14
Q

In sickle cell anemia what does the deoxygenation and sickling of the cell lead to?

A

Vaso occulusion (blocking of blood flow) which then leads into pain crisis

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15
Q

What are complications of sickle cell anemia?

A

Stroke
Organ Damage
Increased infections

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16
Q

What is HDN (hemolytic anemia)? And how does it happen?

A

Hemolytic Disorder of the Newborn

When maternal fetal incompatibility occurs, the maternal antibodies attack the fetal RBCs

17
Q

How many days does the RBCs take to destroy before being considered hemolytic anemia?

A

Before 120 days
(normal is after 120 days)

18
Q

Does HDN have an affect in the first pregnancy?

A

No it won’t
Only in the pregnancies afterwards

19
Q

In HDN when does the blood come in contact?

A

Only when the placenta comes out

20
Q

In HDN how is the blood incompatible?

A

Mother is rh negative and baby is rh positive

21
Q

How can sickle cell cause hypoxia?

A

When the sickled cell gets stuck in the capillaries

22
Q

What is Aplastic anemia?

A

Bone marrow failure or no bone marrow

Characterized by pancytopenia (low RBCs, WBCs, platelets).

23
Q

Why does aplastic anemia occur?

A

Due to Radiation exposure, chemotherapy, Autoimmune disorders, infections

24
Q

How is the kidneys response to anemia?

A

Decreased blood oxygen levels trigger EPO release from the kidneys, stimulating red blood cell production in the bone marrow to increase oxygen levels.

25
Q

What happens to the body’s systems during Hemolytic anemia?

A

Old or damaged red blood cells are broken down by macrophages, releasing bilirubin.

The liver processes bilirubin, which is then excreted in stool and urine

26
Q

Why is Reticulocyte important in the erythropoiesis process?

A

Should not be in the bloodstream, if its present it indicates the person has anemia

27
Q

What is anemia of chronic disease?

A

Caused by chronic inflammation (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease)

28
Q

What is Polycythemia?

A

Excessive production of RBCs, leading to increased blood viscosity (thickness/flow) and risk of thrombosis.

29
Q

What are the 2 types of Polycythemia?

A

Relative Polycythemia: Due to hemoconcentration (dehydration, fluid loss).

Secondary Polycythemia: Caused by chronic hypoxia (e.g., high altitude, COPD, smoking).

30
Q

What is Leukocytosis (Alteration of WBCs)

A

Increased WBC count
Includes:
Neutrophilia (Acute bacterial infections, inflammation) (most common)

Eosinophilia (Allergies, parasitic infections)

Lymphocytosis: (Viral infections)

31
Q

What is Leukopenia (Alteration of WBCs)

A

Decreased WBC count

Neutropenia: Decreased neutrophil production → increased infection risk. (Seen in cancer due to chemo)

Lymphocytopenia: Seen in AIDS, immune deficiencies.

32
Q

What are the two types Leukemias (Blood WBCs & Bone Marrow Cancer)

A

Acute Leukemia: Rapid progression, immature (blastic) cells.

Chronic Leukemia: Slow progression, more mature but dysfunctional cells.

33
Q

In Leukemias there are 2 more types, what is the difference? (Myelocytic vs. Lymphocytic)

A

Myeloid: Affects myeloid progenitor cells. Chronic is Associated with Philadelphia chromosome (t9;22).

Lymphoblastic: acute common in children and chronic more common in adults

34
Q

Where in the bone marrow is Myelocytic and Lymphocytic

A

Myelocytic starts in early myeloid cells

Lymphocytic starts in cells that become lymphocytes

35
Q

What are the 2 different types of Lymphomas (Cancer of Lymphoid Tissue) - WBCs

A

Hodgkin Lymphoma: Presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. Often localized, good prognosis.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: More aggressive, involves multiple lymph nodes.

36
Q

For leukaemia what kind of cell is more agressive?

A

Blastic cells are more aggressive than mature cells

37
Q

What are 2 Decreased Clot Formation (Bleeding Disorders)

A

Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count, excessive bleeding.

Liver Disease: Reduced production of clotting factors.

38
Q

What are 2 Increased Clot Formation Disorders (Hypercoagulability)

A

Thrombosis: Excessive clot formation, stroke, DVT, PE.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): Widespread clotting followed by massive bleeding. Causes: Sepsis, trauma, malignancy.

39
Q

Symptoms of Lymphomas?

A

Swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

Patho 2 (5 decks)

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