Composition of blood - 5.5L total. 50-55% = plasma; 90% water
Erythropoesis is stimulated by... - erythropoetin
Hemoglobin A - the majority of adult hemoglobin. 97% of circulating hemoglobin. 2
alpha and 2 beta chains.
HbA2 - minor adult hemoglobin. 2-3% of circulating hemoglobin. 2 alpha and 2 delta
chains.
Hemoglobin F - Fetal hemoglobin. 2 alpha and 2 gamma chains. Has a greater affinity
for and more regularly binds O2.
Anemia - a decrease in circulating red blood cells in the body, as reflected by a
reduction in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and/or RBCs. Less than 14 in men and less than
12 in women.
Normal RBC - 4.5-6
Normal Hemoglobin - >13 in men, >12 in women.
Normal HCT - 40-50in men; 35-45 in women. usually 3x the hemoglobin count.
Reticulocyte count - Low (<0.5%) High (>2%) if high, bone marrow is trying to
compensate for loss in hgb or red cells. problem exists outside of the bome marrow
MCV (mean corpuscular volume) - description of the volume of an RBC. NOT
DIAGNOSTIC
RDW (red cell distribution width) - 11.5-15 %; index of variation in RBC size and shape.
Indicates evolving macro/microcytic anemia.
MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) - commonly used: 27 - 31 pg/ cell
Amount of hemoglobin per RBC
Folate Deficiency Anemia - Macrocytic anemia; poor intake; low retic, elevate
MCV/MCH, thrombocytopenia ad neutropenia, elevated homocysteine; low RBC folate.
Eat orange fruits! Never treat folate deficiency without testing for B12 deficiency - can
worsen neurological symptoms specific to B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 Deficiency - Macrocytic; malabsorption; occurs when B12 is not released
from food proteins due to impaired digestion; Elevated MCV/Macrocytic;
Pernicious Anemia - lack of mature erythrocytes caused by inability to absorb vitamin
B12 into the bloodstream
Destruction (Hemolytic anemia) - anemia with elevated reticulocytes; intrinsic and
extrinsic
Sickle Cell Anemia - Hemolytic/hereditary. Identified at birth - 6 months when HbSS
replaces fetal hemoglobin. hereditary disorder of abnormal hemoglobin producing
sickle-shaped erythrocytes and hemolysis
Thalassemia Major - Hemolytic/microcytic; defective production of either alpha or beta
globin. leads to damage of the RBC membrane, resulting in ineffective erythropoesis
and hemolysis
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