Pathoma Chapter 5 Flashcards
(100 cards)
What are the clinical symptoms of anemias?
- fatigue, weakness, and dyspnea
- pale conjunctiva and skin
- headache and lightheadedness
- angina, w/ CAD
What Hb level would be indicative of anemia?
less than 13.5 g/dL in men and less than 12.5 g/dL in females
What is the root cause of microcytic anemias?
decreased production of hemoglobin
- microcytosis is due to extra divisions of RBC progenitor cells in the bone marrow to maintain hemoglobin concentration
T or F. A decrease in any of iron, protoporphyrin, or globin will lead to microcytic anemia
T.
Where does absorption of iron occur?
duodenum- DMT-1 transporters
What are some lab values that can be used to measure iron levels in the blood?
- ferritin
- serum iron
- TIPC (measure of transferrin molecules in the blood)
- % saturation
What is the normal % saturation in blood?
33%
What are the lab findings of iron deficiency?
- elevated TIBC, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP)
- low ferritin, serum iron, % saturation
Treatment for iron deficiency?
ferrous sulfate
What is Plummer-Vinson syndrome?
iron deficiency with:
- esophageal webbing
- atrophic glossitis (beefy red tongue)
- dysphagia (trouble swallowing)
What is anemia in chronic inflammation caused by?
hepcidin is increased in chronic inflammation (think bacteria) resulting in a microcytic anemia
What are the lab findings of anemia in chronic inflammation?
- elevated ferritin, FEP
- low serum iron, % saturation, TIBC
What is the root cause of sideroblastic anemia?
protoporphyrin deficiency that causes iron to build up in mitochondria (no porphyrin to add it to)
How is protoporphryin synthesized?
- aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) converts succinyl CoA to ALA using vitamin B6 as a cofactor
- ALA dehydratase converts ALA to porphobilinogen
- more rxns= protoporphyrin
What attaches protoporphyrin to iron to make heme?
ferrochelatase (in mitochondria)
What acquired things can cause sideroblastic anemias?
- lead poisoning
- vitamin B6 deficiency
- alcoholism
How does iron poisoning lead to sideroblastic anemia?
inhibits ALAD and ferrochelatase
What lab findings would you see in sideroblastic anemia?
- elevated ferritin, serum iron, and % saturation
- low TIBC
think an iron-overloaded state
What are thalassemias?
anemias due to decreased synthesis of the globin chains of hemoglobin
T or F. Carriers of thalassemic mutations are partially protected from Plasmodium falciparum malaria
T.
Normal serum iron level?
100 ug/dL
Normal TIBC?
300 ug/dL
Symptoms of one alpha gene deleted?
asymptomatic
Symptoms of two alpha gene deletion?
- mild anemia
- elevated RBC count