Blood Types Four major types: A, B, AB, and O Groups are based on whether A and/or B antigens are present on red blood cells In type O, both A & B antigens are absent In type AB, both A & B antigens are present

Blood Types Cont‘d. Blood TypeCan Donate To Can Receive From AA, ABA, O BB, ABB, O AB (universal recipient) ABA, B, AB, O O (universal donor) A, B, AB, OO (only)

Blood Types – The ABO System

Blood Type A Has A antigens on the surface of RBC and B antibodies in the plasma

Blood Type B Has B antigens on the surface of RBC and A antibodies in the plasma.

Blood Type O Has NO A or B antigens on the surface of RBC and they have BOTH A and B antibodies in the plasma.

Blood Type AB Has BOTH A and B antigens on the surface of RBC and NO A or B antibodies in the plasma.

Rh Factor Rh Factor The Rh Factor People are either Rh positive or Rh negative If you are Rh positive, you have the Rh antigen If you are Rh negative, you do not have the Rh antigen It is important to know Blood Type and Rh factor if a patient is going to receive blood

Blood System Disorders Aneurysm weak spot in the wall of an artery, causes it to balloon out and some- times rupture (usually fatal due to blood loss) Arteriosclerosis (arteri/o = artery + -sclerosis = hardening) Hardening of the arteries which reduces blood flow through the artery

Blood System Disorders Cont’d Varicose Veins Abnormally swollen veins usually occurring in the legs Thrombus blood clot attached to inside wall of vein or artery Embolus blood, air, fat or other substance circulating in the bloodstream. An embolism would be the blockage of the blood vessel by the embolus.

Blood System Disorders Cont’d Cholesterol fatty substances (lipids) that travel in the blood. Certain levels of cholesterol are normal and important for good health An abnormal condition exists when the cholesterol levels are above normal levels. Three kinds of cholesterol – LDL, HDL, Triglycerides Low density lipoprotein (bad kind) – contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries causing a narrowing for blood flow

Blood System Disorders Cont’d Cholesterol Cont’d High density lipoprotein (good kind) – carries unneeded cholesterol back to the liver for processing; does not contribute to plaque build-up in the arteries. Triglycerides – combination of fatty acids and glycerol found in the blood

Blood System Disorders Cont’d Leukemia (leuk/o = white + -emia = blood condition) progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes; malignant (harmful) disorder Anemia lower than normal number of red blood cells Iron Deficiency Anemia Develops if not enough iron is available to the bone marrow to make hemoglobin. Caused by inadequate iron intake, pregnancy, breast feeding, or chronic (long term) blood loss.

Blood System Disorders Cont’d Sickle Cell anemia genetic disorder that causes abnormal hemoglobin abnormally shaped red blood cells (sickled instead of round) interferes with normal blood flow through the body

Diagnostic Tests Pulse Oximeter External monitor that is applied to the finger to measure oxygen in blood saturated with oxygen Normal is above 96% (blood saturated with oxygen) Arterial Blood Gases Measurement of other gases in blood (in addition to oxygen) The gas dissolved in liquid part of blood Blood gases include oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen

Treatments / Procedures Medications Statins Used to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol Examples – Lipitor, Vytorin, Zocor, Pravachol (have you seen commercials??) Anticoagulants Slows blood clotting and prevents new clots from forming Examples – aspirin, coumadin, heparin, plavix (have you seen these commercials?? Such as Ty Pennington promoting aspirin?)

Treatments / Procedures Blood Transfusion Transfusing whole blood or blood components (packed cells, etc..) into a patient. The blood must be carefully matched (A, B, AB, or O as well as Rh+ or Rh-) or the patient may suffer a severe reaction. Blood is tested for diseases like HIV and Hepatitis before transfusion so the disease is not spread to the recipient of the blood.

Treatments / Procedures Medications Cont’d. Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA ) Clot dissolving enzyme used for immediate treatment of heart attack and stroke victims. Breaks down the clot which reduces the damage to the heart (in heart attacks) and the brain (in stroke patients) Many billboards and commercials relating to prompt treatment for heart attacks and strokes. Aimed at encouraging patients to seek treatment quickly so drugs can be effective.