Question

Your adult family member has been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. They know you are studying pathophysiology and want to know more about this type of anemia. 1. Describe the etiology and pathogensis. 2. What symptoms may your family member have had to lead to the diagnosis? (give at least 2) 3. What are treatment options?

Answer 1

Answer :

Anemia is reduced amount of RBC (red blood cells) in blood. Iorn deficiency is one of the cause for anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is the deficiency of iron in the body.

1. Etiology :

• Reduced amount of iron content in the diet
• inability of iron absorbtion from the diet
• Pregnency
• Excessive loss of iron from the body through blood loss like menorrhagia, occult fetal blood loss, piles, intravascular hemolysis etc.
• Worm infestations

Pathogensis :

Iron absorption occures mainly in the deuodenum and jejunum. Iron reaching the stomach is in the ferrus form, which is converted to ferric form with the help of gastric acid which is help in the absorption of iron. Through the basolateral surface of the deuodinal epithelial cells iron is transported into the blood, and from there various organs for storage like in liver. Iron is stored in ferritin and hemosiderin form.

Stages :

Prelatent stage - in this stage iron store will be reduced without reduction of iron level in the blood.

• Haemoglobin, MCV,  transffering saturation will be within normal limits. Iron absorption increased.
• Serum ferritin and marrow iron decreased.

Latent stage - here blood hemoglobin level within normal limits but iron stores are almost over.

• Hemoglobin , MCV within normal limits
• serum ferritin and transferrin saturation decreased
• bone marrow iron will be absent

Iron deficiency anemia - In this stage blood hemoglobin level will be below the lower limit.

• hemoglobin, MCV, serum ferritin, transferrin saturation decreased
• Total Iron Binding Capacity will be increased
• marrow iron will be absent

There will be reduced number of RBC in the blood for the transportation of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, which leads to symptoms.

2. symptoms :

• Tiredness
• Giddiness
• Headache
• Paleness
• Palpitation
• Dry skin
• Hair loss and dry hair
• Mouth ulcer
• easy brittle nails and hair
• chance of recurrent infection
• cold peripheries
• Breathing difficulty

3. Treatment :

• Intake of healthy iron rich diet like red meat, green leafy vegetables, seeds and nuts, jaggery etc
• Oral intake of iron supplements on an empty stomach
• Substance like calcium rich foods eg, yogurt, milk, broccoli ect avoid during intake of iorn suppliments.
• Substance like vitamin C rich foods eg, dark green leafy vegetables, melons and strawberries etc should take during intake of iron suppliments
• Increase intake of pure water
• Treat under lying causes like worm infestation, piles, peptic ulcer disease etc