RBC Disorders and Anemia Review Flashcards

Flashcards testing specific clinical, laboratory, kinetic, and morphologic details of red blood cell disorders and anemias based strictly on the lecture notes.

In the initial laboratory evaluation of microcytic anemia (low MCV), what parameter should be measured first?

Ferritin

When evaluating macrocytic anemia (high MCV), what two vitamins should be measured?

Vitamin B12 and folate

What is the most abundant metal in the body that is also the most common nutritional deficiency?

Iron

What percentage of the $10-20\text{ mg}$ of daily dietary iron is absorbed?

$$10\text{\%}$$

In which part of the gastrointestinal tract is iron absorbed?

Jejunum

In what two forms is iron stored in the body?

Ferritin and Hemosiderin

What three primary etiologies lead to Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)?

Blood loss (bleeding, parasites), poor diet (malnutrition), and increased need (pregnancy, children)

What clinical feature distinguishes Vitamin B12 deficiency from Folate deficiency?

The presence of neurological problems (paresthesias of feet and hands, altered thought process, confusion, dementia) in B12 deficiency, which are absent in folate deficiency.

What specific dietary sources of folate are identified in the transcript?

Leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peanut butter, and red beans

What characteristic morphologic features are seen on a peripheral blood smear in megaloblastic anemia?

Macro-ovalocytes, polychromasia, and hypersegmented neutrophils

What is the second most common cause of anemia overall after Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Anemia of Chronic Disease

After how long a duration of sustained underlying disease does Anemia of Chronic Disease generally develop?

1-2 months

What is the normal value and unit for Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) as listed in the transcript?

$$85 \times 8\text{ fL}$$

What is the normal reference range for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)?

$$30-36\text{ g/dL}$$

How is Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) calculated and what is its standard normal range?

Calculated as $\text{Hb}/\text{RBC}$, with a normal range of $29.5 \times 2.5\text{ pg/cell}$

How is anemia broadly defined in relation to oxygenation?

Decreased red cell mass affecting tissue oxygenation

What are the two primary kinetic mechanisms used to classify anemias?

Decreased production and increased loss

Why does Myxedema cause anemia?

Because thyroxine is involved in marrow function and activity

What specific disorder involves hypopituitarism and produces anemia that responds to hormonal therapy?

Simmond's disease

What cellular mechanism leads to Sideroblastic Anemia?

Accumulation of mitochondrial iron in erythroblasts

What diagnostic cell feature is typically seen in the bone marrow of patients with sideroblastic anemia?

Ringed sideroblasts

How are Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemias defined?

Therapy-resistant anemias with ineffective erythropoiesis that manifest in the first 4 years of life

What oral and lingual clinical features are characteristic of Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Angular cheilitis and atrophic glossitis

What autoimmune etiology causes Pernicious Anemia?

Intrinsic Factor antibodies causing B12 deficiency

Why does Vitamin B12 deficiency occur in Blind Loop Syndrome?

Bacterial overgrowth in the bypassed intestine uses up all available Vitamin B12 and renders bile salts ineffective.

In which part of the small intestine is folate absorbed?

Jejunum

What is the underlying genetic mechanism responsible for Fanconi Anemia?

A genetic defect in a cluster of proteins responsible for DNA repair

What percentage of patients with Fanconi Anemia develop bone marrow failure by age 40?

90%

Who is Fanconi Anemia named after?

The Swiss Pediatrician Guido Fanconi

What clinical manifestations occur due to bone marrow suppression in Aplastic Anemia?

Fatigue, dyspnea, pale skin, frequent or prolonged infections, unexplained or easy bruising, nosebleeds or bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding from cuts, dizziness, and headache

What defines the condition known as pancytopenia?

A reduction in all three elements of the blood

Why are hemoglobin and hematocrit values initially unchanged immediately following acute hemorrhage?

Because both erythrocyte and plasma ratios remain in the same proportions

Within how many hours does anemia become evident after acute blood loss as fluid enters intravascular space?

Within 24 hours

What happens to plasma iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) levels in Anemia of Chronic Disorder?

Both plasma iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) are decreased

What happens to the lifespan of red blood cells with an intrinsic defect if they are transfused into a normal individual?

They would still have a shortened lifespan

What is the anatomical distinction between intravascular and extravascular hemolysis?

Intravascular hemolysis occurs within the bloodstream, whereas extravascular hemolysis occurs inside macrophages.

How does serum haptoglobin level differ between extravascular and intravascular hemolysis?

In extravascular hemolysis, serum haptoglobin is normal or absent, whereas in intravascular hemolysis, it is absent.

What two key diagnostic features characterize Type II Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia (HEMPAS TYPE)?

Erythroblastic multinuclearity and a positive acidified serum test

What is the average lifespan of a normal red blood cell in circulation?

$$90-120\text{ days}$$

What biochemical accumulation produces pronounced basophilic stippling on a blood film in Pyrimidine-5'-Nucleotidase deficiency?

Accumulation of pyrimidines due to impaired degradation of RNA