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Red Blood Cell Disorders

Introduction

What are red blood cell disorders? Red blood cells or erythrocytes are the component of blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. There are many hereditary (congenital) and acquired disorders that affect the production, number, shape, hemoglobin content and friability of red blood cells.

Types

There are two types of red blood cell disorders which are anemia and polycythemia. Anemia is defined as a decrease in the amount of red blood cells, hemoglobin in the blood or decreased ability of the cells to carry oxygen. Anemia is further classified into iron deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, thalassaemia, sickle cell anemia, pernicious anemia and haemolytic anemia. Polycythemia is defined as an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells in the peripheral blood, with an increase in hemoglobin level.

Causes

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body lacks of iron or cannot properly absorb it. Aplastic anemia occurs when your bone marrow doesn’t make enough new red blood cells which may due to damage of bone marrow and blood stem cells. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition in which your body produces low number of red blood cells due to insufficient absorption of vitamin B12. Sickle cell anaemia is a disease in which the body produces unusual sickle shaped of red blood cells. They contain abnormal haemoglobin which leave them curved. The sickle-shaped red blood cells carry less oxygen to your tissues compared to normal red blood cells and they may cause blockage to the flow of blood to your organs by stucking in your blood vessels. Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder which is caused by genetic mutations that causes the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin due to lack of protein chains. Haemolytic anemia is a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made.

Polycythemia has a primary and secondary cause. Primary in which is caused by inherent problems in the process of red blood cell production, secondary in which factors external to red blood cell production (for example, hypoxia, sleep apnea, certain tumors).

Symptoms

Symptoms of anaemia include Plummer–Vinson syndrome, candidal infections. Altered taste sensation, smooth, red painful burning sensation of tongue, filiform followed by fungiform papillae atrophy may also be seen. Others include generalized stomatitis, angular cheilitis and gingivitis.

Symptoms of polycythemia include joint pain, abdominal pain, itching, bruising, headache, fatigue, weakness.

Oral manifestation

Oral manifestation of anemia include angular cheilitis, generalized stomatitis, candidiasis and gingivitis. There will be pallor of lips and oral mucosa. Patients might have a smooth, red painful tongue, experience burning sensation of tongue or disturbed taste sensation. Atrophy of filiform and fungiform papillae may also occur.

Oral manifestation of polycythemia include purplish or red areas of the cheeks, lips, gums, tongue and oral mucosa. Gingiva may be engorged, swollen and there may be spontaneous bleeding. Submucosal petechiae, echymosis and hematoma may also occur.