Characteristics and treatment of disorders HEMATOLOGY Characteristics and treatment of disorders

Inflammation Another topic previously covered What are: Pus Abscess Pyrexia Leukocytosis Edema Excessive fluid in tissues

leukopenia Which is: A decrease in WBCs What do you think may cause it? Taking marrow-depressant drugs, pathologic conditions, or by radiation

anemia Deficiency in the number or % of RBCs Iron deficiency anemia Usually in women, children, and adolescents Deficiency of dietary iron causing insufficient hemoglobin Rx with iron supplements, green leafy veggies Aplastic anemia Bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells Cause – drugs, radiation therapy, inherited, or autoimmune disease Rx removal of toxic substances, d/c drugs or radiation; in extreme cases bone marrow transplant may be performed Sickle cell anemia Chronic, inherited blood disorder RBCs abnormal sickle (crescent) shape Sickle cells break easily and carry less oxygen Occurs primarily in African Americans Pernicious anemia Caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B12 and/or lack of the intrinsic factor (necessary for absorption and utilization) Associated with some autoimmune endocrine diseases

Polycythemia Which is… Too many RBCs May be temporary – occurs at high altitudes d/t less O2 present Polycythemia vera: unknown cause, where the increase in RBCs cause a thickening of the blood What can happen if the blood thickens? Tx is phlebotomy – removal of approx. 1 pint or drug therapy

embolism A moving blood clot until it reaches an artery to small for passage Doesn’t have to be blood clot; can also be air, cancer cells, fat, bacterial clumps, or even a bullet that was lodged but broke free

Thrombosis Formation of a blood clot in a vessel The clot is called a thrombus Caused by unusually slow blood circulation, changes in the blood or blood vessel walls, immobility, or a decrease in mobility

Hematoma Localized clotted mass of blood found in organ, tissue, or space Caused by a traumatic injury that causes a blood vessel to rupture

hemophilia Hereditary – sex-linked disease, transmitted from mother to son Missing clotting factor Blood clots slowly Rx with missing clotting factor (through injections), avoid trauma

thrombocytopenia Not enough platelets Blood does not clot properly

Leukemia Cancerous or malignant condition Overproduction of immature WBCs which replace the erythrocytes Classified as acute or chronic Acute: common in children, progresses rapidly, and may be fatal Chronic: occurs more often in older adults, may not cause death Also classified a myelogenous or lymphocytic Myelogenous: affecting the bone marrow Lymphocytic: afftecting the lymph nodes Tx consists of drug therapy, bone marrow transplants, and radiation therapy Research on cord blood

READ MEDICAL HIGHLIGHTS ON PAGE 251-252

Red blood cells Concave shape

Sickle cells

White blood cells

platelets