Hematopoietic Disorders Vocaublary

Hematopoiesis

Formation of blood cells

Bone Marrow

Primary site of blood-cell production

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell (RBC)

Leukocyte

White blood cell (WBC)

Thrombocyte

Platelet

Anemia

Reduced red-cell oxygen-carrying capacity

Polycythemia

Increased red blood cell mass

Leukopenia

Decreased WBC count

Leukocytosis

Increased WBC count

Neutropenia

Decreased absolute neutrophil count

Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC)

Number of circulating neutrophils per microliter

Thrombocytopenia

Decreased platelet count

Thrombocytosis

Increased platelet count

Pancytopenia

Decrease in RBCs, WBCs, and platelets

Anisocytosis

Variation in red blood cell size

Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)

CBC index measuring variation in RBC size

Poikilocytosis

Variation in red blood cell shape

Microcytic

RBCs smaller than normal

Macrocytic

RBCs larger than normal

Normocytic

RBCs of normal size

Hypochromic

RBCs with decreased hemoglobin coloration

Normochromic

RBCs with normal hemoglobin coloration

Megaloblastic Anemia

Anemia from impaired DNA synthesis and abnormal cell maturation

Macro-Ovalocytes

Large oval-shaped RBCs

Hypersegmented Neutrophils

Neutrophils with increased nuclear lobes

Reticulocyte

Immature RBC

Reticulocytosis

Increased reticulocyte count

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Oxygen-carrying protein in RBCs

Hematocrit (Hct)

Proportion of blood volume made of RBCs

Mean Corpuscular Volume

Average RBC volume, helps classify anemia by cell size

Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Measure of blood iron-binding capacity

Ferritin

Protein reflecting iron stores, also rises with inflammation

Peripheral Blood Smear

Microscopic examination of blood cells to assess their size, shape, and appearance

Pica

Craving or eating nonfood substances

Cobalamin

Vitamin B12

Folate

Vitamin B9

Intrinsic Factor

Stomach-derived protein required for normal B12 absorption

Homocysteine

Metabolite that may rise in B12 or folate deficiency

Methylmalonic Acid (MMA)

Metabolite that rises in B12 deficiency

Pernicious Anemia

B12 deficiency caused by impaired intrinsic-factor-mediated absorption

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone stimulating RBC production

Hemolysis

Destruction of RBCs

Hemolytic Anemia

Anemia caused by premature RBC destruction

Haptoglobin

Protein that binds free hemoglobin, often low in hemolysis

Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)

Enzyme that can rise with cell injury and hemolysis

Bilirubin

Product of heme breakdown, can rise in hemolysis

Splenomegaly

Enlarged spleen

G6PD (Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase)

Enzyme helping protect RBCs from oxidative damage

Oxidative Stress

Cell injury caused by reactive oxidants

Heinz Bodies

Inclusions of damaged hemoglobin in RBCs

Bite Cells

RBCs altered after the spleen removes hemoglobin inclusions

Target Cells (Codocytes)

Bull’s eye shaped RBCs

Thalassemia

Inherited disorder of hemoglobin-chain synthesis

Globin Chains

Protein chains forming part of hemoglobin

Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

Test separating hemoglobin types

Hemoglobin A (HbA)

Predominant normal adult hemoglobin

Hemoglobin S (HbS)

Hemoglobin variant associated with sickle cell disease

Hemoglobin F (HbF)

Fetal hemoglobin

Sickling

Change of RBCs into a sickle shape

Vaso-Occlusion

Blockage of blood flow in small vessels

Bone Marrow Suppression

Reduced blood-cell production by the marrow

Aplastic Anemia

Bone marrow failure causing low blood-cell counts

Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Marrow disorders with ineffective blood-cell maturation

Myeloproliferative Disorder

Disorder causing excessive marrow cell production

Blasts

Immature blood cells

Acute Leukemia

Leukemia with rapid growth of immature cells

Chronic Leukemia

Leukemia that generally progresses more slowly

Myeloid

Blood-cell lineage including granulocytes, RBCs, and platelets

Lyphocytic

Blood-cell lineage of lymphocytes

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Acute leukemia of the myeloid lineage

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Acute leukemia of the lymphoid lineage

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

Chronic leukemia of the myeloid lineage

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Chronic leukemia of the lymphoid lineage

Philadelphia Chromosome

Chromosome change associated with BCR-ABL

JAK2

Protein involved in blood cell growth signaling

Megakaryocyte

Bone marrow cell producing platelets

Thrombosis

Formation of a blood cell within a vessel

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)

Disorder involving small-vessel clots and low platelets

Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Immune-mediated platelet destruction

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF)

Factor stimulating neutrophil production

Filgrastim

Medication that stimulates neutrophil production

Iron Chelation

Medication-based removal of excess iron

Hydroxyurea

Medication that increases HbF and can suppress marrow proliferation