1. Blood and Blood-Forming Organs Diseases and Disorders
Chapter 7
Blood and Blood-Forming Organs Diseases and Disorders

2. Anatomy and Physiology
Hematologic system
Major functions of blood:
Transport nutrients to cells
Aid removal of wastes
Average adult has 5 to 6 liters of circulating blood

3. Blood Components

4. Anatomy and Physiology
Erythrocytes
Normal count:
4.2 to 6.3 million
Life span:
120 days
Form in bone marrow and do not reproduce

5. Anatomy and Physiology
Hemoglobin important in oxygen transport
Normal hemoglobin:
Male
13.5 to 18 hemoglobin in grams (gm)/100 milliliter (ml)
Female
12 to 16 gm/100ml

6. Anatomy and Physiology
Leukocytes protect individual from infection
Normal count:
4,500 to 11,000

7. Anatomy and Physiology
Platelets
Also known as thrombocytes
Important in blood clotting
Normal count:
150,000 to 350,000

8. Anatomy and Physiology
Blood-forming organs:
Lymph nodes
Bone marrow
Spleen
Liver
Lymph system protects against pathogens

9. Anatomy and Physiology
Bone marrow
Major blood cell producer
Spleen produces lymphocytes, plasma cells, and antibodies to filter microorganisms from blood
Liver produces prothrombin and fibrinogen for blood clotting

10. Animation
Click Here to Play Blood Animation

11. Common Signs and Symptoms
Erythrocytopenia
Decrease in RBCs leading to anemia
Symptoms:
Fatigue
Headache
Low RBCs
Pallor
Shortness of breath

12. Common Signs and Symptoms
Erythrocytosis
Increased RBCs
Symptoms:
High RBCs
Reddened skin tones
Bloodshot eyes
Increased blood volume and pressure
Increased blood volume of heart

13. Common Signs and Symptoms
Leukocytopenia
Decreased white blood cells
Weakens immune system
Leukocytosis
Increased white blood cells
Normal response to acute infections

14. Common Signs and Symptoms
Thrombocytopenia
Decreased platelet count leading to coagulation problem
Symptoms:
Petechiae
Small hemorrhages in skin
Ecchymoses
Large areas of bruising or hemorrhage

15. Common Signs and Symptoms
Thrombocytopenia
Symptoms:
Epistaxis
Nosebleeds
Bleeding in mouth, gums, and mucous membranes

16. Common Signs and Symptoms
Thrombocytosis
Increase in platelets
Uncommon
Usually no serious side effects

17. Diagnostic Tests Complete blood count with differential and indices
Biopsy of blood-forming organs
Hematocrit (Hct) reflects amount of red cell mass as proportion of whole blood
Hemoglobin (Hgb) reflects blood’s oxygen-carrying potential

18. Diagnostic Tests Bleeding time determines platelet disorders
E.g., hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation
Prothrombin time (PT) and partial prothrombin time (PTT) measure blood’s ability to clot

19. Diagnostic Tests
Biopsy
Bone marrow
Lymph node

20. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Anemia
Decrease in oxygen-carrying ability of RBC
Symptoms:
Pallor
Fatigue
Shortness of breath

21. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Anemia
Symptoms:
Tachycardia
Headache
Irritability
Syncope

22. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Iron deficiency anemia
Loss of iron or inadequate intake of iron
Causes:
Blood loss
Low dietary intake
Treatment:
Increase dietary intake of iron

23. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Folic acid deficiency anemia
Folic acid needed for maturation of RBCs
Causes:
Poor diet
Overcooking of vegetables
Over consumption of alcohol
Treatment:
Increase folic acid intake by eating green and yellow vegetables

24. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Pernicious anemia
Lack of intrinsic factor leading to inadequate absorption of vitamin B12
Treatment:
Monthly injections of vitamin B12 for life

25. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Hemolytic anemia
Destruction of RBCs related to antibody-antigen reaction
Disorder of immune system leading to destruction of erythrocytes
Treatment:
Exchange transfusion and/or splenectomy

26. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Sickle cell anemia
Hereditary
Found in African American race
Abnormal sickle shape of erythrocyte
Does not allow cell to travel smoothly through vessels
Symptomatic treatment
No cure

27. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Aplastic anemia
Failure of bone marrow to produce blood components
Causes:
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Viruses
Toxins

28. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Aplastic anemia
Treatment:
Avoid causative agent
Bone marrow transplantation
Transfusions

29. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Polycythemia
Too many blood cells
Symptoms:
Enlarged spleen
Reddened mucous membranes
Bloodshot eyes
Deep red color on palms

30. Disorders of Red Blood Cells
Polycythemia
Treatment:
Donate blood at regular intervals to reduce blood volume

31. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Mononucleosis
Also known as kissing disease
Symptoms:
Fatigue
Sore throat
Swollen glands

32. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Mononucleosis
Diagnosis by increased monocytes in white blood cells (WBCs)
Treatment:
Rest
Analgesics
Throat gargles

33. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Leukemia
Malignant neoplasm of blood-forming organs
Abnormal production of immature leukocytes
May be acute or chronic
Acute forms affect children, progress rapidly, and may be fatal

34. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Leukemia
Chronic forms affect older adults, are often asymptomatic, and may not be fatal
Classified as:
Myelogenous
Affecting bone marrow
Lymphocytic
Affecting lymph nodes

35. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Leukemia
Diagnosis by bone marrow biopsy
Symptoms:
Fatigue
Headache
Sore throat

36. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Leukemia
Symptoms:
Dyspnea bleeding of mucous membranes of mouth and gastrointestinal (GI) system
Bone and joint pain
Enlargement of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen
Infections common

37. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Leukemia
Treatment:
Aggressive chemotherapy
Once in remission, bone marrow transplant to replace neoplastic tissue with normal tissue
Remission at 50 percent

38. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Hodgkin’s disease
Most common lymphoma
Symptoms:
Painless enlargement of lymph nodes in neck
Weight loss
Fever
Primarily affects young adults
Average age of 35

39. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Hodgkin’s disease
Cause thought to be viral
Diagnosis by presence of Reed-Sternberg cell in lymphatic tissue
Treatment:
Radiation
Chemotherapy
If in remission for five years or more, complete cure possible

40. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)
Lymphomas lacking Reed-Sternberg cell
Symptoms:
Painless enlargement of lymph nodes of neck, axilla, and inguinal areas
Fever
Night sweats
Weight loss

41. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Multiple myeloma
Malignant neoplasm of plasma cells or B-lymphocytes
Increases with age
Peaks in 70s
Plasma cells multiply abnormally in bone marrow
Causes weakness
Leads to fractures and bone pain

42. Multiple Myeloma

43. Disorders of White Blood Cells
Multiple myeloma
Diagnosis by honeycombed bone pattern, hypercalcemia, Bence-Jones protein found in blood and urine, and bone marrow biopsy
Treatment:
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Not effective
Poor prognosis

44. Disorders of Platelets
Hemophilia
X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder
Several types
Type A
Most common
Male children from asymptomatic mothers
Lack protein necessary for clot formation

45. Disorders of Platelets
Hemophilia
Symptoms:
Epistaxis
Bruising
Prolonged bleeding
Diagnosis by blood test

46. Disorders of Platelets
Hemophilia
Treatment:
Prevention of injury
Treat symptoms
Blood transfusions
Concentrated form of clotting protein
No cure

47. Disorders of Platelets
Thrombocytopenia
Also known as thrombocytopenia purpura
Decrease in platelets leading to inability to normally clot blood
Symptoms:
Abnormal bleeding in skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs
Petechiae

48. Disorders of Platelets
Thrombocytopenia
Symptoms:
Ecchymoses
GI hemorrhages
Epistaxis
Hematuria

49. Disorders of Platelets
Thrombocytopenia
Diagnosis by platelet count and bleeding time
Treatment:
Avoid tissue trauma to reduce bleeding
Vitamin K
Transfusions of platelets
Splenectomy

50. Disorders of Platelets
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Abnormal clotting followed by abnormal bleeding
Usually follows major trauma
E.g., complicated childbirth, surgery, tissue destruction, septicemia, snakebite, shock
Multiple clots in capillaries
Life-threatening

51. Disorders of Platelets
DIC
Symptoms:
Petechiae
Ecchymosis
Hematoma
Hematuria
GI bleeding

52. Disorders of Platelets
DIC
Symptoms:
Hematemesis
Blood in stool
Treatment:
Heparin
Platelets

53. Disorders of Platelets
Rare diseases
Thalassemia
Primarily affects people of Mediterranean descent
Fragile, thin RBCs form defective hemoglobin

54. Disorders of Platelets
Rare diseases
von Willebrand’s disease
Hereditary
Congenital
Deficiency in clotting factor and platelet function
Also known as angiohemophilia
Affects females and males

55. Effects of Aging
Age-related changes in other systems (e.g., immune, digestive) leave older adults more susceptible to infections and nutritionally related blood disorders
Decreased iron
Poor nutrition