Blood Cell Disorders Trivia Quiz

Answer: Polycythemia

Polycythemia is also known as erythrocytosis. A decreased amount of oxygen reaching the tissues stimulates the release of erythropoietin, which increases red cell numbers. Polycythemia can develop as a result of inadequate oxygen supply at high altitudes, cyanotic heart disease and bone marrow disorders.

Answer: G-6-PD

Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) is an enzyme found in the red cell membrane. People deficient in G-6-PD can develop anemia if they are exposed to certain infections or drugs. The gene is sex-linked and usually only affects males.

Answer: Leukocytosis

An increased white cell count over the normal range is a classic sign of infection. However, many factors apart from disease can cause leukocytosis. Strenuous work, smoking, exercise, epinephrine injections, pain and anoxia can all lead to higher white cell counts.

Answer: Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia is a megaloblastic anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. If the digestive tract does not absorb vitamin B12, pernicious anemia results. It is most often due to chronic gastritis and mostly found in people of Northern European heritage.

Answer: Pancytopenia

Pancytopenia is a condition characterized by a reduction in all three elements of the blood and has a variety of causes. These include autoimmune diseases, myeloma, hypersplenism and aleukemic leukemia.

Answer: Folic acid

Folic acid, also known as folate, is in the vitamin B complex family found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit and meat such as liver. Consuming large amounts of alcohol causes the gastrointestinal tract to lose its ability to absorb folic acid. Oral supplements or injections can be prescribed for individuals unable to absorb folic acid from the intestinal tract.

Answer: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of conditions that are caused by a proliferation of hemopoietic cells which have abnormalities in maturation and proliferation and usually preleukemic. They can be caused by exposure to benzene, anti-cancer agents and ionizing radiation.

Answer: Thalassemia

Two types of thalassemia exist- thalassemia major and minor. Thalassemia minor is the most common and mildest form of the two types. These carriers have one defective gene for Hgb.

Thalassemia major(alpha and beta) occurs in individuals who inherit one defective gene from each parent.

Thalassemia may be cured by bone marrow transplantation and also regular transfusions of packed red cells to help with oxygen transportation. However, iron overload is a complication of repeated transfusions.

Answer: Hemophilia

Hemophilia was recognized in writing as early as the second century A.D. as a transmitted hemorrhagic disorder that appeared in male offspring.
Hemophilia A (Classical) is a deficiency in Factor VIII:C and hemophilia B (Christmas disease) is a deficiency in Factor IX. Coagulation factor disorders cause abnormal bleeding which can be treated with fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate or other coagulation concentrates.

Queen Victoria and Mother Theresa were both carriers of hemophilia.

Answer: Leukemia

Leukemias are diseases characterized by malignant proliferation of blood cells and bone marrow. Any type of call may be involved and are classified as myelocytic, lymphocytic, monocytic or erythroblastic. Any type can be either acute or chronic. Acute forms are, generally speaking, fatal within six months if untreated and there are numerous blast cells in the peripheral blood.