Week 2 (Anemia) Flashcards
Heme
Heme = ferroprotoporphyrin IX contains ferrous (Fe2+) iron Hemin = ferric Fe3+ iron (useless,, metHb)
Heme synthesis
1st and last 3 steps in mitochondria, rest in cytoplasm
1 succinyl coa + glycine -ALAS-> ALA (rate limiting)
βis PLP dependent,, schiff base
ALAS1=liver (subject to feedback inhibition and increases by drugs),, ALAS2=erythroid (always on)
2 ALA -ALAD-> PBG (req Zn, inhibited by lead)
3 PBGD makes a chain of PBGs, UROS ensures stereochem
4 UROD changes side groups
5 CPO changes side groups
6 PPO oxidizes
7 ferrochelatase adds Fe2+,, inhibited by lead
Porphyrias
Defect in Heme synthesis
autosomal dominant, rare
early defects= ALA accumulation = neurologic dysfunction
later defects = cyclic tetrapyrroles accumulate = sunlight-induced cutaneous lesions
can be acute or chronic
Hemoglobin
R=relaxed=high affinity
T=taut=low affinity
CO locks in R state (as does high O2 conc)
High CO2, H+, temp, DPG = curve shift right = O2 released from Hb
Normal adults: 96% HbA (a2b2), 1% HbF (a2g2), 3% HbA2 (a2d2)
Can use electrophoresis or HPLC to detect abnormalities (most silent)
Sickle Cell Anemia
homozygous recessive mutation in B-globin gene
Val for Glu at aa6 = HbS
deoxyHbS forms long chains
chronic hemolytic anemia, shorter RBC lifespan of 20days,, microvascular occlusion
chain formation depends on: degree of deoxygenation, cellular Hb conc, relative HbF conc, time through microvasculature
Promote sickling: hypoxia, acidosis, dehydration, cold temps, infxns
Clinical: severe anemia, acute pain crises (vaso-occlusion in marrow), auto-splenectomy, acute chest syndrome (bad), stroke, aplastic crisis (parvo B19), splenic sequestration crisis (infants, treat w transfusion), megaloblastic anemia (folate shortage), etc
Labs: anemia, increased bilirubin, sickled cells, increased retics, normal MCV
ALSO: causes endothelial activation, recruites neutrophils, clogs vasculature, increased transit, bad loop
Tx: hydroxyurea
Thalassemia Syndromes
decrease synthesis of HbA (a2b2)
microcytic/hypochromic anemias
severity related to degree of chain imbalance (excess normal chains accumulate and cause cell death)
B-thal major: homozygous, severe, transfusion dependent,, also need aggressive iron chelation therapy
B-thal minor: heterozygous, mild microcytic anemia, elevated HbA2
a-thal: severity ranges widely based on number of alpha genes (out of 4) deleted
Microcytic anemias
Normochromic: iron def (early), thalassemia trait, anemia of chronic disease, some Hb-opathies
Hypochromic: iron def, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, anemia of chronic disease
Normochromic/Normocytic anemias
anemia of chronic disease, renal failure, marrow infiltration, aplastic anemia, blood loss, hemolysis
Macrocytic anemias
Megaloblastic (impaired DNA synthesis): B12, folate deficiency, myelodysplastic syndromes
Non-megaloblastic: reticulocytosis, liver sidease, hypothyroidism, drugs
CBC measurements
Hb conc = important assessment of O2 carrying capacity
Hct = not useful
RBC = not useful
MCV = very useful for micro/macrocytic
MCH = not useful
MCHC = mean Hb conc per cell, determines hypo/hyperchromic
RDW = variability in RBC volume
Spherocytes
round small, hyperchromic RBCs, also fragile
hereditary spherocytosis
autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Target cells
liver disease, splenectomy, hemoglobinopathies
Elliptocytes
hereditary elliptocytisis
megaloblastic anemia
iron def
myelofibrosis
Teardrop cells
megaloblastic anemia
myelofibrosis
extramedullary hematopoiesis
Fragments (schistocytes)
TTP, DIC, malignant HTN
Bite cells
oxidant hemolysis (G6PD deficiency)
Howell-Jolly Bodies
nuclear fragments in RBCs
splenectomy, megaloblastic anemia
Pappenheimer bodies
iron granules in RBCs
splenectomy, iron overload
Basophilic stippling
lots of blue dots in RBCs
Thalassemias, MDS, lead poisioning