Disorders of Iron Kinetics and Heme Metabolism

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to iron kinetics, disorders of heme metabolism, and their laboratory assessments.

Iron Kinetics

The study of the metabolism and movement of iron within the body, specifically regarding its absorption, utilization, and storage.

Hepcidin

A liver-derived protein that regulates iron absorption and distribution in the body by binding to ferroportin.

Transferrin

A plasma protein that serves as the main transport vehicle for iron in the bloodstream.

Ferritin

The primary protein that stores iron in a non-toxic, soluble form, primarily found in the liver.

Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

A laboratory test that measures the blood's capacity to bind iron with transferrin, helping to assess iron levels.

Percent Transferrin Saturation

A percentage calculated by dividing serum iron by TIBC, indicating how much transferrin is saturated with iron.

Sideroblastic Anemia

A type of anemia characterized by the presence of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow, often associated with impaired heme synthesis.

Lead Poisoning

A type of sideroblastic anemia caused by lead exposure, which disrupts normal iron metabolism and heme synthesis.

Anemia of Chronic Inflammation

Anemia associated with chronic disease characterized by normal or increased ferritin levels yet decreased serum iron and TIBC.

Prussian Blue Staining

A histological staining technique used to detect iron deposits in tissues, commonly used in the assessment of iron deficiency or overload.

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

Anemia resulting from insufficient iron availability, leading to inadequate production of hemoglobin.

Divalent Metal Transporter 1 (DMT1)

A protein that transports ferrous iron (Fe2+) across the intestinal cell membrane into enterocytes.

Iron Overload

A condition characterized by excessive iron accumulation, which can damage organs and cause diseases like hemochromatosis.

Erythropoiesis

The process of producing red blood cells, which can be affected by iron availability.

Chronic Blood Loss

A condition that leads to iron deficiency due to ongoing small losses of heme iron, commonly from gastrointestinal sources.

Koilonychia

A condition often associated with iron deficiency in which fingernails become thin, brittle, and spoon-shaped.

Reticulocyte Count

A laboratory test that measures the number of young red blood cells in circulation, which can indicate bone marrow activity.

Anisocytosis

The presence of red blood cells of unequal sizes, often observed in various types of anemia.

Hemoglobinopathies

Disorders caused by abnormalities in the hemoglobin within red blood cells, affecting their function.

Hapto-globin

A plasma protein that binds free hemoglobin in the blood, preventing kidney damage.

Soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR)

A marker for iron deficiency, reflecting the amount of transferrin available to transport iron.

Basophilic Stippling

An abnormal finding in red blood cells indicative of lead poisoning and certain types of anemia.