Posted: April 29th, 2018

Blood cells disorders: diagnosis and classification

Blood cells disorders: diagnosis and classification

Blood cells are essential components of the human body. They perform vital functions such as transporting oxygen, fighting infections, and forming blood clots. However, sometimes blood cells can become abnormal or dysfunctional, leading to various blood disorders. These disorders can affect one or more types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. In this essay, I will discuss the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and classification of some common blood cell disorders.

Red blood cell disorders

Red blood cells (RBCs) are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. They contain a protein called hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen and gives blood its red color. RBCs have a lifespan of about 120 days, after which they are removed by the spleen and liver. The bone marrow produces new RBCs to replace the old ones.

Red blood cell disorders can result from either a decrease or an increase in the number or quality of RBCs. Some examples of these disorders are:

– Anemia: Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy RBCs to deliver adequate oxygen to the tissues. Anemia can have various causes, such as iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, inherited hemoglobin abnormalities (such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia), autoimmune destruction of RBCs (such as hemolytic anemia), bone marrow failure (such as aplastic anemia), or chronic diseases (such as kidney failure or cancer). Anemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, pale skin, dizziness, and chest pain.
– Polycythemia: Polycythemia is a condition in which the body produces too many RBCs. This can lead to increased blood viscosity and risk of blood clots. Polycythemia can be primary (due to a mutation in the bone marrow cells) or secondary (due to low oxygen levels, smoking, dehydration, or certain hormones or drugs). Polycythemia can cause symptoms such as headache, itching, redness, blurred vision, and abdominal pain.

The diagnosis of red blood cell disorders usually involves a complete blood count (CBC), which measures the number and size of RBCs, hemoglobin level, and hematocrit (the percentage of blood volume occupied by RBCs). Other tests may include a peripheral blood smear (which examines the shape and structure of RBCs under a microscope), a reticulocyte count (which measures the number of immature RBCs), a serum iron level (which measures the amount of iron in the blood), a serum ferritin level (which measures the amount of iron stored in the body), a serum vitamin B12 level (which measures the amount of vitamin B12 in the blood), a serum folate level (which measures the amount of folate in the blood), a hemoglobin electrophoresis (which separates different types of hemoglobin by their electrical charge), a Coombs test (which detects antibodies against RBCs), and a bone marrow biopsy (which obtains a sample of bone marrow tissue for examination).

The classification of red blood cell disorders is based on the underlying cause and mechanism of the disorder. For example, anemia can be classified into three main categories: microcytic anemia (in which the RBCs are smaller than normal), normocytic anemia (in which the RBCs are normal in size but low in number), and macrocytic anemia (in which the RBCs are larger than normal). Each category can have different subtypes depending on the specific cause of anemia. For example, microcytic anemia can be caused by iron deficiency, thalassemia, or lead poisoning; normocytic anemia can be caused by hemolysis, hemorrhage, or bone marrow failure; and macrocytic anemia can be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, or liver disease.

White blood cell disorders

White blood cells (WBCs) are part of the immune system and help protect the body from infections and foreign substances. There are five main types of WBCs: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Each type has a specific function and role in fighting different types of pathogens. The bone marrow produces WBCs and releases them into the bloodstream.

White blood cell disorders can result from either a decrease or an increase in the number or function of WBCs. Some examples of these disorders are:

– Leukopenia: Leukopenia is a condition in which the body has too few WBCs. This can impair the immune system and increase the risk of infections. Leukopenia can have various causes, such as viral infections (such as HIV or hepatitis), bacterial infections (such as tuberculosis or typhoid fever), fungal infections (such as histoplasmosis or candidiasis), parasitic infections (such as malaria or toxoplasmosis), autoimmune diseases (such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), drugs (such as chemotherapy or antibiotics), radiation therapy, or bone marrow disorders (such as leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome). Leukopenia can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers, skin infections, and swollen lymph nodes.
– Leukocytosis: Leukocytosis is a condition in which the body has too many WBCs. This can indicate an infection, inflammation, allergy, or malignancy. Leukocytosis can have various causes, such as bacterial infections (such as pneumonia or meningitis), viral infections (such as mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus), fungal infections (such as aspergillosis or cryptococcosis), parasitic infections (such as leishmaniasis or schistosomiasis), allergic reactions (such as asthma or anaphylaxis), inflammatory diseases (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), drugs (such as corticosteroids or epinephrine), stress, exercise, pregnancy, or bone marrow disorders (such as leukemia or lymphoma). Leukocytosis can cause symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, and enlarged spleen.

The diagnosis of white blood cell disorders usually involves a complete blood count (CBC), which measures the number and percentage of different types of WBCs. Other tests may include a differential blood count (which identifies the specific types of WBCs present in the blood), a peripheral blood smear (which examines the shape and structure of WBCs under a microscope), a blood culture (which tests for the presence of bacteria or fungi in the blood), a bone marrow biopsy (which obtains a sample of bone marrow tissue for examination), and immunophenotyping (which uses antibodies to identify the surface markers of WBCs).

The classification of white blood cell disorders is based on the type and number of WBCs affected and the underlying cause and mechanism of the disorder. For example, leukopenia can be classified into neutropenia (in which the neutrophils are low), lymphopenia (in which the lymphocytes are low), monocytopenia (in which the monocytes are low), eosinopenia (in which the eosinophils are low), and basopenia (in which the basophils are low). Each type of leukopenia can have different subtypes depending on the specific cause of leukopenia. For example, neutropenia can be caused by congenital defects, acquired disorders, drugs, infections, or malignancies; lymphopenia can be caused by HIV infection, immunodeficiency syndromes, drugs, radiation therapy, or malignancies; monocytopenia can be caused by corticosteroids, chemotherapy, aplastic anemia, or hairy cell leukemia; eosinopenia can be caused by corticosteroids, stress, infections, or Cushing’s syndrome; and basopenia can be caused by corticosteroids, hypersensitivity reactions, infections, or chronic myeloid leukemia.

Platelet disorders

Platelets are small fragments of cells that help the blood to clot. They stick together at the site of an injury and form a plug that stops bleeding. They also release chemicals that activate other clotting factors and promote wound healing. The bone marrow produces platelets and releases them into the bloodstream.

Platelet disorders can result from either a decrease or an increase in the number or function of platelets. Some examples of these disorders are:

– Thrombocytopenia: Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the body has too few platelets. This can impair the blood’s ability to clot and increase the risk of bleeding. Thrombocytopenia can have various causes, such as decreased production of platelets in the bone marrow (due to viral infections, drugs, alcohol, cancer, or aplastic anemia), increased destruction of platelets in the bloodstream or spleen (due to autoimmune diseases, drugs, infections, or hypersplenism), increased consumption of platelets in the blood vessels (due to disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC], thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [TTP], hemolytic uremic syndrome [HUS], or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [HIT]), or sequestration of platelets in the spleen (due to cirrhosis or portal hypertension). Thrombocytopenia can cause symptoms such as easy bruising, bleeding gums,

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