Hemolytic Anemia Conditions

We realized my naturally tan complexion had slowly paled, another red flag. In February, I was once again eligible to donate. Everything was fine until the nurse tested my hemoglobin, which had at one time been close to the maximum level for donation. Now, I was at 12.4, 0.1 below the minimum measurement. Trying to hold back tears, I let the nurse try my other finger. 12.4. I was crushed. I left the donation center confused and determined to raise my level enough to donate. Two days later, I tried again and barely made the qualifications. Ecstatic, I donated and forgot all about it, assuming I had lacked iron in my diet for the month or something. About two weeks later, I received a letter from Red Cross. They told me my ferritin levels are below eight, I’m not allowed to donate for a year, and I needed to go to the doctor. I had no idea what ferritin was. After a lot of research, I discovered that it’s the protein in your cells that stores iron. A set of blood tests and a doctor’s visit later, I was told I have anemia. Anemia occurs when your blood lacks iron and therefore keeps your red blood cells from delivering oxygen throughout your body. All of a sudden, everything clicked into

Anemia is a disorder of blood that causes a decrease in red blood cells. Sickle Cell anemia is a type of Anemia. The abnormal gene that is passed down from each parent makes a condition in which, there aren’t sufficient healthy RBC to carry passable oxygen throughout your body. Sickle cells are hemispherical shaped that chunks the blood flow in vessels that can cause severe pain. In addition to red blood cells being sickled shaped, WebMD explains that the red blood cells of individuals with Sickle Cell anemia only last about twenty days in comparison to the one hundred twenty days that a normal red blood cell lasts. This contributes to the tired and weak feeling related with the anemia characteristic of Sickle Cell Anemia, thus creating the person look weak and washed out according to WebMD.

As a provider, one will care for many patients that have different types of anemia. Anemia is not so much as a disease as a symptom of an underlying issue. Although there can be particular signs and symptoms associated with anemia, the basis of a diagnosis is from laboratory data. For the purpose of this discussion, I will evaluate a case study and give a differential diagnosis. I will also assess how patient history, physical exam, and lab reports support my diagnosis. I will explain the pathophysiology of the type of anemia and give causes and treatment options available.

In order to find out if a person has Sickle-Cell Anemia, doctors need to diagnose him/her using special methods. One simple, inexpensive method, which happens to be the most common one, includes giving the blood test called hemoglobin electrophoresis. It shows the hemoglobin type in person’s body. This blood test is now given in more than forty states, and is mostly performed on newborn babies. These tests also tell whether or not the child carries the Sickle-Cell trait. In addition, another method of diagnosis is called the Sickle-Cell solubility test. This test can possibly detect the presence of “bad” hemoglobin.

In conclusion, a person with this blood disorder have a lower number of red blood cells and have a lower life expectancy. A patient with SCA may have chronic health problems including circulatory problems, a splenic sequestration crisis, acute chest syndrome, and brain complications. People with SCA are resistant to malaria and can be of different ethnicities including African. Despite being a painful blood disorder, there is much funding going into the research of SCA. Overall, sickle cell anemia is a chronic and inherited blood disease in which a person has “sickle” shaped blood

also had a complete blood count, a blood test, as a baseline to assess his overall health. The complete blood count is “To evaluate numerous conditions involving red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This test is also used to indicate inflammation, infection, and response to chemotherapy (Bladh et al., 2013).” T.A.’s abnormal blood results were as follows: RBC 3.3 10^6 cells/microL (low), hemoglobin 11.0 g/dL (low), hematocrit 33.2% (low), and mean corpuscular volume 99.7 fL (high). The normal range for RBC should be 3.8-5.81 10^6 cells/microL. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels should be 12.6-17.4 g/dL and 36-52%. Normal mean corpuscular volume should be 79-103 fL. T.A.’s abnormal lab values indicate anemia. A decrease in red blood cell is related to nutrient deficiency such as a deficiency in iron or vitamins that are needed for red blood cell production and maturation. The decrease production or maturation of red blood cells lead to anemia in the patient. A low hemoglobin is associated with an overall decrease of red blood cell count and anemia caused by nutritional deficit of iron, vitamins, and folate. It can also be low due to a decrease level of erythropoietin caused by the AKI. Like hemoglobin, a low hematocrit is associated with an overall decrease of red blood cell count due to anemia, nutrition deficiency, and AKI. T.A.’s increased mean corpuscular volume is related to anemia caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (Bladh et al.,

It is diagnosed by a blood test called hemoglobin electrophore that measures people abnormal sickle hemoglobin. The amount of hemoglobin determines if a person has a sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease (WebMD). If they do not have abnormal sickle hemoglobin they neither have a sickle cell trait or disease. People who are affected by Sickle Cell Anemia crises (pain in your bones) go through a lot of pain. They normally have chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe infections and blood blockage. People who have Sickle Cell describe their pain in differently, Tiffany who has Sickle Cells said, it’s like repeatedly being stabbed by a butcher knife in the same spot. Another lady Heather said. Her pain feels like someone is pouring glass in the same spot into her veins and expecting her to keep living normal. Patients with this disease go through a lot of pain and are not able to do anything about it because there are no cures for it. Pharmacist just have medicine to manage their pain. Patients go to therapy, take vitamins, and get blood transfusions and induction of hemoglobin to reduce their pain (WebMD). There are many more medicines now, in today’s time, to help people with their pain and people take medication

Haemolytic anemia is caused by the breakdown of the sickle cell and are not replaced quick enough causing a lack of erythrocytes to carry oxygen to vital tissues and

The lab results show your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and fat cells levels. (A.S.H, 2017) The doctor reviews these results to check your blood for any abnormal decline or spike in your blood count. If there are any decline or spike it will show various issues within the blood. It can show that the person has leukemia, a genetic disease, or cancer of the bone. (Harmening, 1997)

In this lab five blood tests will be performed: hematocrit determination, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin determination, blood typing, and total cholesterol determination. A “hematocrit refers to the percentage of red blood cells (RBC’s) in a sample of whole blood. Since the function of red blood cells is the transport of oxygen to the cells of the body, the higher the hematocrit, the more red blood cells are available to carry oxygen.” In a normal, healthy male the value for males is 47% and in a normal, healthy female it is 42%. A person with a lower than normal hematocrit would indicate they are anemic, and a higher than normal hematocrit would indicate

I know first hand what its like to have iron deficiency anemia. I have had it for almost four years and I know what its like to not even know when you have it. I was diagnosed with anemia when I fainted in a movie theater after loosing a very large amount of blood from my menstrual cycle. I knew it wasn’t normal, but I was not aware of how serious it actually was . I began to have symptoms a few hours before going to the movies, but I did not pay much attention to it. After the incident in the theaters, I was rushed to the hospital and that is when they diagnosed me with iron-deficiency anemia.

Anemia of chronic disease — The hallmarks of this condition are the presence of a low serum iron, low iron binding capacity (transferrin), and a normal to increased serum ferritin concentration. The causes are usually related to the presence of chronic infection, (eg, pulmonary tuberculosis), inflammation (eg, active rheumatoid arthritis), or malignancy (eg, stage IIIB Hodgkin lymphoma).

A CBC test includes red blood count, white blood count, red blood cell indices, platelet count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit (Hematocrit, 2015). Depending on the results to these test results, additional tests may be suggested. The hemoglobin and hematocrit results are the values used the most to determine if a patient has anemia. When combined with information from the history and physical examine of a patient, results of these tests can give insight to a specific type of anemia and its cause (McKenzie & Otto, 2015).

Hematocrit is the percentage of your blood volume made up by red blood cells. Normal levels are normally between 34.9 and 44.5 percent for adult women and 38.8 to 50 percent for adult men. These values may change depending on your age. Lower than normal hemoglobin levels means that you may have anemia. The normal hemoglobin range is generally defined as 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL of blood for men and 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL for women. The normal ranges for children vary depending on the child's age and sex. Ferritin, a protein that helps store iron in your body can be tested as well. Low level of ferritin usually specifies a low level of stored iron. If your blood work indicates iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may order additional tests to identify a hidden cause as to why you may have this blood disorder. Some tests include endoscopy, which is a procedure where a thin, lighted tube equipped with a video camera is passed down your throat to your stomach. This allows your doctor to view your esophagus — the tube that runs from your mouth to your stomach — and your stomach to look for sources of bleeding. To cross out lower intestinal sources of bleeding, your doctor may recommend a procedure called colonoscopy. A thin, flexible tube equipped with a video camera is inserted into the rectum and guided to your colon. You're usually put to sleep during this test. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to view inside some or all of your colon and rectum to look for internal bleeding. A pelvic ultrasound may be conducted to look for the cause of excessive period bleeding as

Hemolytic anemia- anemia that results from the destruction of red blood cells and may be caused by bacteria, genetic disorders, or toxic chemicals.