BLD 324 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++ LATEST UPDATE
What is the definition of Anemia?
Decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
What are the generic signs of anemia?
Pallor of skin and mucous membranes
Fatigue and dyspnea
neurologic symptoms (e.g. headache)
cardiac symptoms (e.g. palpitations)
if severe/prolonged - heart failure and death :(
What is the laboratory definition of anemia?
Decreased hemoglobin
What causes anemia in pregnant women?
Increase plasma volume while red cell mass is unchanged
What causes red blood cell production?
Production increases when Erythropoietin increases and it increases when kidneys
detects hypoxia.
What causes increase of EPO?
Increases when kidneys detect hypoxia
What is the definition of Polycythemia?
Increased blood cells
,What is the definition of Erythrocytosis?
Increased red cells
What is Absolute Erythrocytosis?
Increased red blood cell mass (truly an increase in red blood cell numbers in the
vasculature)
What is PRIMARY Absolute Erythrocytosis?
-No underlying hypoxia and no increase in EPO, but RBCs increase dramatically
-Seen in polycythemia (rubra) vera
-leukemia
-NO INCREASE IN EPO
What is SECONDARY Absolute Erythrocytosis
-Increased red clood cell mass due to increased EPO
-Primary events are those that increase EPO
-Cause hypoxia
-INCREASE IN EPO
What are primary events that increase EPO?
-cigarette smoking
-living at high altitude
-increased HbF in newborns
-abnormal hemoglobins that don't carry oxygen well
-lung and cardiac diseases that impair oxygenation of blood
What is Relative Erythrocytosis?
, -The red cells are unchanged in number, but the plasma component of blood changes
(Decrease in plasma volume creates false impression of erythrocytosis e.g elevated
Hct)
-Lab results can be misleading
What laboratory testing is performed to distinguish relative and absolute
polycythemia?
red cell mass measurement and measure plasma volume
What is the expected response to anemia?
Accelerated reticulocytosis
Requires: increase in reticulocytes and must be over 3% to adequately compensate for
anemia
Microcytic ref range
<80 fL
Normocytic ref range
80-100 fL
Macrocytic ref range
>100 fL
What does cell color reflect?
Hemoglobin concentration in cells
Hypochromic ref range
<32
Normochromic ref range
>32
SOLUTIONS GRADED A++ LATEST UPDATE
What is the definition of Anemia?
Decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
What are the generic signs of anemia?
Pallor of skin and mucous membranes
Fatigue and dyspnea
neurologic symptoms (e.g. headache)
cardiac symptoms (e.g. palpitations)
if severe/prolonged - heart failure and death :(
What is the laboratory definition of anemia?
Decreased hemoglobin
What causes anemia in pregnant women?
Increase plasma volume while red cell mass is unchanged
What causes red blood cell production?
Production increases when Erythropoietin increases and it increases when kidneys
detects hypoxia.
What causes increase of EPO?
Increases when kidneys detect hypoxia
What is the definition of Polycythemia?
Increased blood cells
,What is the definition of Erythrocytosis?
Increased red cells
What is Absolute Erythrocytosis?
Increased red blood cell mass (truly an increase in red blood cell numbers in the
vasculature)
What is PRIMARY Absolute Erythrocytosis?
-No underlying hypoxia and no increase in EPO, but RBCs increase dramatically
-Seen in polycythemia (rubra) vera
-leukemia
-NO INCREASE IN EPO
What is SECONDARY Absolute Erythrocytosis
-Increased red clood cell mass due to increased EPO
-Primary events are those that increase EPO
-Cause hypoxia
-INCREASE IN EPO
What are primary events that increase EPO?
-cigarette smoking
-living at high altitude
-increased HbF in newborns
-abnormal hemoglobins that don't carry oxygen well
-lung and cardiac diseases that impair oxygenation of blood
What is Relative Erythrocytosis?
, -The red cells are unchanged in number, but the plasma component of blood changes
(Decrease in plasma volume creates false impression of erythrocytosis e.g elevated
Hct)
-Lab results can be misleading
What laboratory testing is performed to distinguish relative and absolute
polycythemia?
red cell mass measurement and measure plasma volume
What is the expected response to anemia?
Accelerated reticulocytosis
Requires: increase in reticulocytes and must be over 3% to adequately compensate for
anemia
Microcytic ref range
<80 fL
Normocytic ref range
80-100 fL
Macrocytic ref range
>100 fL
What does cell color reflect?
Hemoglobin concentration in cells
Hypochromic ref range
<32
Normochromic ref range
>32
