Question

List and describe three disorders involving \(\mathrm{RBCs}\), three disorders involving \(\mathrm{WBCs}\), and two disorders involving platelets. (pages \(121,123,\) and 125 )

Short answer

Three disorders involving RBCs are: 1. Anemia: a condition resulting from a lack of healthy red blood cells, leading to fatigue, weakness, and pale skin. 2. Sickle cell disease: an inherited disorder causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, leading to pain, infections, and organ damage. 3. Polycythemia vera: a slow-growing blood cancer causing overproduction of red blood cells, resulting in increased blood volume and thickness. Three disorders involving WBCs are: 1. Leukemia: a cancer affecting white blood cells, causing an abnormally high number of immature white blood cells and reducing immune system efficiency. 2. Lymphoma: a cancer that begins in lymphocytes, with two main types being Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 3. Neutropenia: a condition with low neutrophil count, making individuals more susceptible to infections. Two disorders involving platelets are: 1. Thrombocytopenia: a disorder characterized by a low number of platelets, leading to easy bruising and bleeding. 2. Hemophilia: an inherited genetic disorder causing blood to not clot properly due to a defect in clotting factors, leading to frequent and prolonged bleeding.

Step-by-step solution

Disorders involving Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

1. Anemia: Anemia is a condition in which the person's body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to provide adequate oxygen to the body tissues. This can be caused by a lack of iron in the diet, blood loss, chronic diseases, or inherited disorders. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and pale or yellow skin. 2. Sickle cell disease: Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders in which the red blood cells become sickle-shaped, stiff, and sticky. This abnormal shape makes it difficult for blood to flow through small blood vessels, potentially leading to severe pain, infections, and organ damage. The disease most commonly affects people of African, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Indian descent. 3. Polycythemia vera: This is a slow-growing blood cancer that causes an overproduction of red blood cells, leading to an increased blood volume and thickness. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and difficulty with concentration. There is no cure, but treatment usually involves bloodletting to reduce the volume of red blood cells in the body.

Disorders involving White Blood Cells (WBCs)

1. Leukemia: Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. In this disease, the body produces an abnormally high number of immature white blood cells, which reduces the efficiency of the immune system. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, frequent infections, and easy bruising or bleeding. 2. Lymphoma: Lymphoma is another type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. 3. Neutropenia: Neutropenia is a condition in which the body has a low number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infections. This can be caused by various factors such as certain medications, chemotherapy, or an underlying medical condition. People with neutropenia are more susceptible to infections, and they may experience fever, easy bruising, and slow healing of cuts and wounds.

Disorders involving Platelets

1. Thrombocytopenia: Thrombocytopenia is a disorder characterized by the low number of platelets in the blood, which are essential for blood clotting. This can be caused by several factors like autoimmune diseases, viral infections, or certain medications like chemotherapy. Symptoms may include easy bruising, heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, nosebleeds, and bleeding gums. 2. Hemophilia: Hemophilia is an inherited genetic disorder in which the blood does not clot properly due to a defect in the blood clotting factors. The disorder is usually seen in males, and symptoms include frequent bruises, spontaneous bleeding, and prolonged bleeding after injuries. Treatment typically involves infusions of clotting factor to prevent or control bleeding episodes.

Key concepts

Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

Red blood cells (RBCs) are crucial components of our blood, responsible for delivering oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returning carbon dioxide to be expelled. These donut-shaped cells are packed with hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen. RBC disorders can significantly affect health because they alter the cell's ability to carry oxygen efficiently.

• Anemia: A common disorder where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells. The main result is reduced oxygen transport, causing symptoms like fatigue and pallor. Iron deficiency is a frequent cause, but it can also arise from chronic illness or genetic conditions.
• Sickle Cell Disease: A genetic disorder leading to misshaped RBCs that can't navigate small vessels easily, often resulting in episodes of pain and risk of infections. It's more prevalent in certain ethnic groups, including those of African and Mediterranean descent.
• Polycythemia Vera: This rare condition leads to the production of too many RBCs, increasing the risk of clots and impaired blood flow. Management focuses on reducing blood cell numbers to maintain circulation.

White Blood Cells (WBCs)

White blood cells (WBCs) are the defenders of the body, fighting infections and playing a vital role in the immune system. They act like soldiers, patrolling the bloodstream to ward off invaders. Disorders affecting WBCs severely compromise the immune response.

• Leukemia: A cancer characterized by the overproduction of immature white blood cells, hindering the body's ability to fight off infections, leaving one vulnerable to frequent illnesses.
• Lymphoma: A type of blood cancer affecting lymphocytes, key players in the immune system. Symptoms often include swollen lymph nodes and persistent fatigue.
• Neutropenia: This signifies a low count of neutrophils, essential for battling infections. Causes range from medication side effects to chronic diseases, amplifying infection risks.

Platelets

Platelets are small blood components essential for clotting, preventing excessive bleeding and facilitating wound healing. They gather at injury sites to form clots and stop bleeding.

• Thrombocytopenia: This condition means low platelet counts, leading to reduced blood clotting ability. It may result from autoimmune reactions or certain treatments, manifesting as prolonged bleeding, easy bruising, or gums bleeding.
• Hemophilia: A genetic disorder wherein blood fails to clot normally due to missing clotting factors. Though rare, it primarily affects males and requires clotting factor infusions to manage bleeding risks.

Anemia

Anemia is more than just feeling tired; it's a condition where your body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to tissues. This can result from various causes including nutritional deficiencies like low iron or vitamin levels, chronic diseases, or genetic factors. People with anemia might experience fatigue, pale skin, or even dizziness. Treatment often involves iron supplements or diet changes to address the underlying cause and restore healthy blood cell levels.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a blood cancer primarily impacting white blood cells. It causes the production of abnormal, often immature WBCs that can't function properly. This leads to compromised immunity, making even minor infections dangerous. Symptoms can be vague, including fatigue, fever, and frequent infections. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy to eliminate cancerous cells, sometimes followed by a bone marrow transplant to restore healthy blood production.

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder where the blood doesn't coagulate properly due to the deficiency of clotting factors. It's largely hereditary, predominantly affecting males due to it being linked to the X chromosome. Individuals with hemophilia experience frequent, unprovoked bleeding episodes or excessive bleeding from injuries and surgeries. Regular infusions of the missing clotting factors are necessary to control bleeding and prevent long-term joint damage caused by bleeding into joints.