Ch. 6 Blood System Pathology

coagulopathy

A medical condition that affects the blood's ability to coagulate or form clots, leading to excessive bleeding or thrombosis.

hemophilia

A genetic disorder that impairs the body’s ability to make blood clots, leading to prolonged bleeding. It is often due to a deficiency in clotting factors, most commonly factor VIII.

Von Willebrand disease

A bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor, which is essential for platelet adhesion and clot formation, leading to increased bleeding risk.

leukemia

A type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, characterized by an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. It can disrupt normal blood cell production and lead to various health complications.

non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

A type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system, characterized by the uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes. It includes a diverse group of disorders that can vary significantly in their presentation and treatment.

multiple myeloma

When the genetic material in the plasma cells mutates, it causes these cells to become cancerous. As myeloma cells multiply, they crowd out healthy blood cells inside bone marrow, and produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications including soft spots in the bone. It is called multiple myeloma because most patients develop more than one of these bone lesions.

Aplastic anemia

a rare but serious condition characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow

myelodysplastic syndrome

is a type of cancer in which there is insufficient production of one or more types of blood cells due to dysfunction of the bone marrow

pancytopenia

a condition that is characterized by lower-than-normal quantities of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.

decompression sickness

a condition resulting from the formation of gas bubbles in the bloodstream after a rapid decrease in pressure, often seen in divers. aka the bends

hemochromatosis

is a hereditary condition that causes excessive iron accumulation in the body, potentially leading to organ damage.

hereditary spherocytosis

a genetic disorder characterized by the production of spherically shaped red blood cells that are prone to hemolysis, leading to anemia.

leukopenia

a reduction in the number of white blood cells in the bloodstream, which can increase the risk of infections.

neutropenia

a condition marked by a decrease in neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, increasing susceptibility to infections. usually result of cancer treatment

polycythemia

a blood disorder characterized by an increased number of red blood cells, which can lead to thicker blood and complications like clotting.

thrombocytopenia

a condition characterized by a low platelet count in the blood, increasing the risk of bleeding and bruising.

thrombocytosis

a condition marked by an excess of platelets in the blood, which can increase the risk of thrombosis and related complications.

anemia

a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, leading to fatigue, weakness, and various complications.

megaloblastic anemia

a type of anemia characterized by the presence of large, abnormal red blood cells (megaloblasts) due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

pernicious anemia

a type of megaloblastic anemia caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12 due to intrinsic factor deficiency.

hemolytic anemia

a type of anemia resulting from the premature destruction of red blood cells, leading to a lower count in circulation.

sickle cell anemia

a hereditary form of anemia characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, which causes red blood cells to assume a sickle shape, leading to various complications.

thalassemia

a genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin production, resulting in an imbalance of the globin chains and leading to anemia.

malaria

a disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, leading to hemolytic anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells.

sepsis

a life-threatening response to infection characterized by systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction.