BLOOD DISEASESPrepared by Mr.YeungBiology 30S

IMAGINE…

• You are a spy for “Black cross” (an organization that hates blood)

• You have infiltrated the bloodstream • What can you do to damage the blood and the body

as a whole?• Consider the properties of all the different components of

blood.

COMPONENTS OF BLOOD

• Plasma• Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

• Carries oxygen

• White blood cells (leukocytes)• Fights infections

• Platelets • Blood clot

POSSIBILITIES OF ATTACK• Lower the amount of RBCs

• Anemia – low RBC count = low oxygen• People will get tired and lack

the energy to perform regular tasks

• Dizziness, lightheadedness, and a fast heart rate

• Easy to catch other illnesses• Mechanisms of anemia

• How can you lower the RBC amount?

• Excessive destruction of RBCs • Blood loss • Inadequate production of RBCs

Why?Why?

MECHANISMS OF ANEMIA• 1. Excessive destruction of RBCs

• Hemolytic (hemo – blood, lytic – breakdown)• Red blood cells are destroyed prematurely• Production in the bone marrow cannot keep up

or maintain ‘homeostasis’• Homeostasis - State of balance between the

inside of the body and the external environment • Causes

• Infections, medications, inherited• Blood loss • Inadequate production of RBCs

• Treatments• Bone marrow transplant

MECHANISMS OF ANEMIA• 2. Sickle-cell anemia

• Genetic disease • Sickle shaped

(crescent moon)• Low surface area• Abnormal form of

hemoglobin• Can clog blood

vessels• Cure?

• None• But treatments for the

pain• Blood transfusion

MECHANISMS OF ANEMIA• 3. Blood loss

• Excessive bleeding, or injury• Internal bleeding• Heavy menstrual periods

• When large amounts of blood are excreted, what else are you losing?

• What does your body need to replenish?• Caused by lack of iron (hemoglobin?)

• Treatments• Iron diet• Birth control pill to control the menstrual

cycle

MECHANISMS OF ANEMIA

• 4. Inadequate production of RBCs• Caused by infections, exposure to toxic

chemicals, and or medication• Iron deficiency can also cause the lack

of RBC production.• Treatments

• Bone marrow transplant for serious cases

• Iron diet

POSSIBILITIES OF ATTACK

• Increase the amount of WBC• Leukemia

• Blood cancer • Cancer = uncontrolled growth of our cells,

and in leukemia’s case, white blood cells. • Lots of WBC and not many RBC• As the disease progresses – mature WBC decreases and large numbers of immature white WBC increases

• Can’t fight infections• Also affects blood clotting

POSSIBILITIES OF ATTACK• Treatments of Leukemia

• Radiation/chemotherapy• Bone marrow transplant

POSSIBILITIES OF ATTACK• Take away the clotting abilities

• Hemophilia • Inherited disorder (genetic) that prevents

normal blood clotting.• Lack the proteins needed for normal blood

clotting• When you have it, you bleed for a long time

• Treatments• Give or replace the protein required for blood

clotting to occur (Replacement therapy)• Hormone therapy – stimulates the body to

produce more of the blood clotting protein

HEMOPHILIA

SUMMARY

Disorder/Disease Characteristics Treatments

Anemia Lack of RBC Bone marrow transplant, iron diet, transfusion

Sickle cell anemia Crescent moon shaped, lack of RBC

Blood transfusion

Leukemia Lots of WBC, little RBC Radiation, Chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant

Hemophilia Lack blood clotting proteinUncontrolled bleeding

Inject body with blood clotting protein