Anemias and Red Blood Cell Problems Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and pharmacotherapy of anemias and red blood cell disorders based on the lecture transcript.

Hemoglobin

A protein within red blood cells containing a heme unit with iron at the center that reversibly binds oxygen and $CO_2$ for transport.

Hematocrit

A measurement of the percentage of red blood cells in a volume of blood, normally ranging from $37\%$ to $52\%$.

Buffy coat

The layer in a centrifuged hematocrit tube containing white blood cells and platelets.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a depressed hematocrit, decreased number of circulating erythrocytes, or abnormal hemoglobin content.

Polycythemia

A condition characterized by an elevated hematocrit percentage, often as high as $70\%$, indicating an increase in red blood cells.

Sickle Cell Disease

A condition where abnormal hemoglobin S forms strands that distort red blood cells into a sickle shape, especially when oxygen is low.

Microcytic anemia

A classification of anemia where the Mean Corpuscular Volume ($MCV$) is less than $80$.

Normocytic anemia

A classification of anemia where the Mean Corpuscular Volume ($MCV$) is between $80$ and $100$, common in chronic disease or hemorrhage.

Macrocytic anemia

A classification of anemia where the Mean Corpuscular Volume ($MCV$) is greater than $100$, often associated with Vitamin $B_{12}$ or Folate deficiency.

Mentzer index

A calculation determined by $MCV/RBC$; a value less than $13$ is suggestive of Thalassemia.

Koilonychia

A clinical manifestation of iron deficiency characterized by brittle, spoon-shaped nails.

Glossitis

Inflammation of the tongue, which is a clinical manifestation of iron, Vitamin $B_{12}$, or Folate deficiency.

PICA

A clinical manifestation of iron deficiency involving cravings for non-food substances.

Pagophagia

A specific form of PICA characterized by the craving and chewing of ice.

Pernicious anemia

Anemia caused by a lack of Intrinsic Factor ($IF$), which prevents the absorption of Vitamin $B_{12}$ in the terminal ileum.

Intrinsic factor (IF)

A substance secreted by gastric parietal cells that allows for the absorption of Vitamin $B_{12}$; logic for why gastric bypass or bowel resection can cause deficiency.

Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease

Anemia primarily caused by impaired erythropoietin production, where hemoglobin and hematocrit levels correspond with kidney insufficiency.

Aplastic Anemia

A primary condition of bone marrow stem cells that can be congenital, acquired, or idiopathic, resulting in decreased blood cell production.

Thalassemia

An inherited condition characterized by the absent or decreased production of normal hemoglobin chains (Alpha or Beta).

Acquired Hemolytic Anemia

Premature destruction of red blood cells caused by external agents such as autoimmune attacks, blood incompatibilities, or drug reactions.

Hemoglobinuria

The presence of hemoglobin in the urine, which is a key sign to look for in hemolytic anemia.

Jaundice

A yellowing of tissues that can occur in hemolytic anemia due to the rapid destruction of red blood cells.

Haptoglobin

A protein that typically decreases in hemolytic anemia as it binds to free hemoglobin released during cell lysis.

Acute blood loss ($50\%$)

A loss of $2500\,mL$ of blood that leads to clinical manifestations of shock and death.

epoetin alfa

An Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent prototype (Epogen, Procrit) that mimics human erythropoietin to stimulate RBC production.

Heme iron

The form of iron representing $40\%$ of iron in meat, poultry, and fish, which is well absorbed by the body.

Non-heme iron

The form of iron found in all plants and $60\%$ of animal tissue that is less well absorbed.

Ferrous Sulfate

The prototype oral iron therapy drug used for prevention and treatment of iron deficiency, containing $20\%$ elemental iron.

Iron Dextran

A parenteral iron prototype (DexFerrum) indicated when oral iron is intolerable; carries a black box warning for fatal anaphylaxis.

Cyanocobalamin

The prototype drug for Vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency, with oral being the preferred route.

Relative Polycythemia

An isolated decrease in plasma volume, often from severe dehydration, which elevates Hgb, Hct, and RBC counts.

Polycythemia Vera

A primary neoplastic disease where a mutated stem cell causes uncontrolled proliferation and overproduction of all blood cells.

Secondary Polycythemia

An adaptive or compensatory response to tissue hypoxia that increases RBC production to provide more oxygen carriers.

Ruddy color

A clinical manifestation of polycythemia vera characterized by a dusky red coloring of the face.

Pruritus

Itching that occurs as a clinical manifestation of polycythemia, often associated with increased RBCs and hypermetabolism.

Hemorrhage

The common etiology for acute blood loss anemia, where manifestations depend heavily on the amount of blood lost.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone stimulated by hypoxemia that triggers the production of red blood cells.

Hypokalemia

A potential adverse effect of Vitamin $B_{12}$ therapy (Cyanocobalamin).

Megaloblastic anemia

A type of anemia resulting from Vitamin $B_{12}$ or folic acid deficiency that involves macrocytes being produced due to omitted cell divisions.

TIBC

Total Iron Binding Capacity; a lab value that is high in iron deficiency anemia but low in anemia of chronic disease.