Question

Choose three topics from the heme lecture and explain why their pathophysiology is important for a nurse to understand

Answer 1

Examples of three topics from the hematopoietic system:

Haemophilia is a recessive X-linked genetic disorder, caused due to the mutation of genes on X-chromosomes. Hemophilia patients suffer from prolonged bleeding of blood vessels when they are damaged; this is due to the lack of clotting factors.

Two mutations on X- chromosome cause two types of X-linked hemophilia, namely hemophilia A (lack of clotting factor VIII) and hemophilia B (lack of clotting factor IX). Majority of the hemophilia cases are of Haemophilia A (approximately 80 to 85%), Haemophilia B occurs in about 14% of patients.

It is important to understand the pathophysiology of hemophilia because the treatment and preventive measures require the supplementation of deficient clotting factors, which would otherwise lead to hemorrhage (for example, if the patient needs to undergo a surgery).

(II). Anemia - The term “anemia” refers to the decrease in a number of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin than the normal levels.

It is important to understand the pathophysiology of anemia because it may indicate several underlying abnormalities of the other systems or organs. Common causes of anemia include iron deficiency and presence of other diseases that interfere with RBC production or cause RBC destruction.

(III). Leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells. The pathophysiology of leukemia mainly involve the uncontrolled multiplication and release of undifferentiated, immature and non-functional cells into the circulation. These immature cells infiltrate the lymphatic tissues and other organs including the brain and liver. I