Hematology Terms Flashcards
(28 cards)
Anemia causes
Decrease in production
Increase in destruction
Blood loss (trauma)
Anemia
Low red blood cell count (RBC)
and/or low hemoglobin (Hgb) and hematocrit (Hct).
Reticulocyte count
The lab value that measures immature erythrocytes/RBC and is used to determine bone marrow activity.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
The lab value that reflects the average size of the RBCs;
derived from a ratio of packed RBCs to total RBCs.
Normocytic
RBCs are the average size, usually expressed through a normal MCV. (80-100)
Micrcytic
small RBCs, usually expressed through low MCV (<80).
Macrocytic
large RBCs, usually expressed through high MCV (>100).
Normochromic
a RBC having the normal color due to adequate hemoglobin, usually expressed through a normal MCHC.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Lab value that estimates the hemoglobin concentration.
Not as helpful as MCV.
Ferritin level
a lab test that is used to determine available iron stores in the body.
Hemoglobin
a protein-iron compound in erythrocytes that carries O2 and CO2.
There are different types: Hb F (infants) Hb A (most adults)
Hemoglobinopathy
a group of inherited disorders characterized by structural variations of the hemoglobin molecule.
ie: Hb S seen in patients with sickle cell anemia
Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
lab test that identifies hemoglobin type
Sickle cell anemia
a hemoglobinopathy that occurs in people homozygous for Hb S resulting in distorted and fragile RBCs.
Aplastic anemia
anemia due to decreased red cell production
Usually seen with pancytopenia and results from the failure of bone marrow to generate new cells.
Hemolysis
break down or destruction of RBCs
Hemolytic anemia
a disorder involving a premature destruction of RBCs.
causes can be inherited defect in RBCs, or non-inherited such as an immune disorder
G6PD is one type that occurs episodically
Iron deficiency
inadequate iron supply for normal hemoglobin synthesis.
results from diet, poor absorption, or chronic bleeding
Thalassemia
an inherited hemolytic hemoglobinopathy caused by deficient synthesis of hemoglobin polypeptide chains.
classified according to which chain is involved:
alpha-thalassemia or
beta-thalassemia
Sideroblastic anemia
characterized by abnormal production of large, immature and dysfunctional erythrocytes
includes B12 and folate deficiencies
Hematology course divided into what 5 general categories?
How the blood responds anemias coagulopathies malignancies immunohematology
Cytokines
proteins that are involved in cell-to-cell communication and control stem cell differentiation into specific cell types.
Erythropoietin
a cytokine that influences stem cells to develop into red blood cells (RBCs)
Blasts
these are blood cells that are in an immature stage of development
these should only be found in the bone marrow (BM); blasts found circulating in the blood indicate a likely malignancy
