Question

List the two types of drugs given to treat a patient with the following condition(s) and also include what laboratory blood test or other diagnostic test commonly ordered by a physician and the normal range for each bold test.

1. Sickle Cell Anemia

2. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

3. Hemophilia

Answer 1

1. Sickle cell anemia- It is a n inherited form of anemia. In this condition the patient RBC will be in sickle or crescent shape. So they will die easily.

Drugs

From birth to five years of age due to immature immune system there is a possibility of childhood illness. So give pencillin(broad spectrum antibiotics) daily.

In case of acute crisis, Give opioid analgesics

Blood test

Complete blood count reveals high reticulocyte count (Normal range 0.5-1.5%)

Low hemoglobin (Normal range 13-17g/dl for males, 12-15g/dl for females)

Hemoglobin electrophoresis reveals abnormal forms of hemoglobin,HgbS and HgbSC (Normal forms Hb A, HB A1)

2. Deep vein thrombosis- Blood clot formation in one or more veins.

Drugs

Anticoagulants to prevent blood clot formation eg., Heoarin

Thrombolytics to dissolve the clot eg., Streptase

Blood test reveals elevated D dimer (Normal range 500ng/ml)

Ultrasound, CT, MRI and venography (a dye is injected into the vein and the series of x Rays will be taken)- to locate the clot

3. Hemophilia- It is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by deficiency of clotting factors VIII or IX

Drugs

Desmopressin- this hormone stimulate body to release more clotting factors

Antifibrinolytic therapy to prevent clot from break down eg., Tranaxemic acid

Blood test

Clotting factor test

Normal range of factor VIII or factor IX - 50 to 100%

Mild hemophilia- 5 to 50%

Moderate hemophilia- 1 to 5 %

Severe hemophilia- less than 1%

Activated partial thromboplastin time will be prolonged- It measures the clotting ability of the factors VIII and IX which indicates hemophilia. (Normal range 30 to 40 seconds)

Prothrombin time- It measures the clotting ability of factors I, II, V, VII and X. In hemophilia patients it will be normal (Normal range 11 to 13.5 seconds)