MLT 251 - Anemia Intro TERMs

Familiarize yourself with more hematology terms.

Anemia

A condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen transport in the body. Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.

True Anemia

A condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin levels, leading to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues.

Functional Anemia

A type of anemia where red blood cells are present, but their ability to carry oxygen is impaired due to various factors such as chronic disease or nutritional deficiencies.

Oxygen Saturation

The percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen.

Oxygen dissociation curve

o High affinity

o Low affinity

A graphical representation showing the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen and hemoglobin saturation. It illustrates how readily hemoglobin binds to oxygen at different concentrations.

p50 value

The partial pressure of oxygen at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated with oxygen, indicating the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

Shift to the right

Refers to a change in the oxygen dissociation curve, indicating that hemoglobin has a lower affinity for oxygen, resulting in increased oxygen release to tissues.

Shift to the left

indicates increased affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, which occurs under conditions such as decreased carbon dioxide levels or increased pH.

Hypoxia

A condition in which there is a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues, resulting in various physiological effects.

2-3 BPG

A byproduct of glycolysis that decreases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen, facilitating oxygen release to tissues.

EPO

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow in response to low oxygen levels.

Morphological classification of anemias

A system for categorizing anemias based on the size, shape, and appearance of red blood cells under a microscope, helping to identify the underlying cause.

Etiological classification of anemias

A system that categorizes anemias based on their underlying causes, such as blood loss, decreased red blood cell production, or increased red blood cell destruction.

IDA

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type caused by insufficient iron for hemoglobin production.

ACI

Anemia of chronic inflammation, a type of anemia that occurs due to chronic disease or inflammatory states, affects red blood cell production.

SA

Sideroblastic anemia, a type of anemia characterized by the presence of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow, results from impaired incorporation of iron into hemoglobin.

Thalassemia

A genetic blood disorder characterized by reduced production of one or more globin chains in hemoglobin, leading to anemia.

Serum Iron

The amount of iron present in the blood, crucial for hemoglobin formation and reflects body iron stores.

TIBC

Total iron-binding capacity, a blood test that measures the blood's ability to bind iron with transferrin, indicating iron levels in the body.

Transferrin

A glycoprotein that binds iron in the bloodstream and transports it to various tissues and organs.

Ferritin

The primary intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled manner, reflecting the body's iron reserves.

% TIBC Saturation

The percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron, indicating the amount of available iron in the bloodstream.

Hemosiderin

An insoluble protein complex that stores excess iron in the body, typically formed from the degradation of ferritin and indicates iron overload.

Megaloblastic Anemia

A type of anemia characterized by the presence of larger than normal red blood cells (megaloblasts) in the bone marrow due to impaired DNA synthesis, often caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Non-megaloblastic (but macrocytic) anemia

Anemia characterized by enlarged red blood cells that are not megaloblasts, often linked to conditions such as alcohol use, liver disease, or hypothyroidism.

Pernicious Anemia

A type of megaloblastic anemia caused by the inability to absorb vitamin B12 due to intrinsic factor deficiency.

Refractory Anemia

A type of anemia that does not respond to standard treatments, often associated with underlying medical conditions such as myelodysplastic syndromes.

Aplastic Anemia

A condition where the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient blood cells, leading to anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.

Hemolytic Anemia

A disorder where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made, leading to anemia.

Myelophthisic Anemia

A type of anemia caused by the replacement of bone marrow with abnormal tissue, leading to reduced blood cell production.

Reticulocytes

Immature red blood cells produced by the bone marrow that indicate erythropoiesis activity.

PNH

A rare, acquired disorder characterized by the destruction of red blood cells due to a defect in the bone marrow, leading to hemolytic anemia.

MAHA

Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia, a type of anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells within small blood vessels.