Question

Marie Curie was a famous French-Polish scientist known for her pioneering research on radioactivity. Her work not only brought her fame but her death as well; she developed aplastic anemia due to radiation exposure. She experienced recurrent and prolonged infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal). Explain why she suffered from recurrent infections. Be sure to mention the different types of WBC and the relation to the various infections, and the reasons why she lacked the cell-mediated and the humoral response.

Apart from suffering from recurrent and prolonged infections, Marie Curie also experienced the following signs and symptoms: fatigue, rapid heart rate, pale skin, easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, and dizziness. Bone marrow transplant was not an option at that time and so blood transfusion was the treatment of choice.

Explain the reasoning behind these other signs and symptoms that Curie experienced. Assume her blood group was A negative. Which blood groups can she receive? Which blood groups can she not receive? Explain why.

Answer 1

Marie Curie suffering from aplastic anemia due to extensive exposure to radiation.In aplastic anemia the blood cells stop producing new blood cells( includes all blood types ).Due to this stoppage of production of new blood cells, symptoms are seen.Fatigue is the most prominent symptoms to occur when body is unable to produce RBC and also causes uncontrolled bleeding and more susceptible to infections.

Aplastic anemia leads to deficiency of RBC ,WBC and platelet.Fat replaces thee bone marrow cells causes by autoimmune deficiencies. Lymphocytes and macrophages are the main components of immune system,aplastic anemia is characterized by compromised immune system.

Aplastic anemia as a result of bone marrow failure causes imbalance between in lymphocyte activation.So the treatment includes immunosuppression.And decreased reticulocyte count can be treated by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cellsand immune suppression.

Hematocrit value decreases due to the abnormally low RBC levels.

Marie Curie died of aplastic anemia.The symptoms of RBC deficiency include paleness ,fatige,rapid heart rate.The symptoms of WBC deficiency include easy bruising , prolonged bleeding from any cuts.

Marie Curie blood group is A negative,so she can receive blood from A negative and O negative individuals.With other blood groups leads to agglutination reactions.

Marie Curie experienced recurrent and prolonged infections (viral , bacterial ,fungal and parasitic) due to loss of immunity.