RASMUSSEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 5
COMPREHENSIVE COURSE REVIEW
◉ What stimulates the release of erythropoietin (EPO)?
Answer: Hypoxia.
◉ What is the sequence of RBC development starting from
hematopoietic stem cells?
Answer: Hematopoietic stem cell → Myeloid progenitor →
Proerythroblast → Reticulocyte → Mature erythrocyte.
◉ What are the requirements for erythropoiesis?
Answer: Iron for hemoglobin synthesis, Vitamin B12 and Folate for
DNA synthesis, and EPO for proliferation signal.
◉ What does a high reticulocyte count indicate?
Answer: Hemolysis or blood loss.
◉ What does a low reticulocyte count indicate?
Answer: Bone marrow suppression or deficiency.
◉ What is the classification of anemia based on MCV?
,Answer: <80 = microcytic, 80-100 = normocytic, >100 = macrocytic.
◉ What are common causes of microcytic anemia?
Answer: Iron deficiency, Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease
(late).
◉ What are common causes of macrocytic anemia?
Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency, Alcohol use, Liver
disease.
◉ What is Polycythemia Vera?
Answer: A myeloproliferative neoplasm caused by JAK2 mutation
leading to autonomous RBC production.
◉ What are the symptoms of Polycythemia Vera?
Answer: Headache, dizziness, pruritus (especially after warm
showers), splenomegaly.
◉ What is the role of Vitamin B12 in the body?
Answer: DNA synthesis and myelin formation.
◉ What are the neurologic signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Answer: Paresthesia, loss of vibration sense, ataxia.
, ◉ What is the mechanism of Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)?
Answer: Inflammation leads to increased IL-6, which increases
Hepcidin, blocking iron release from macrophages.
◉ What are Reed-Sternberg cells?
Answer: Large, bilobed 'owl-eye' cells seen in Hodgkin lymphoma,
which are malignant B cells.
◉ What causes Sickle Cell Crisis?
Answer: A mutation in the beta-globin gene leading to HbS
polymerization under hypoxia.
◉ What are the complications of Sickle Cell Crisis?
Answer: Stroke, organ infarction, infection (functional asplenia).
◉ What differentiates Aplastic Anemia from Myelodysplastic
Syndrome (MDS)?
Answer: Aplastic Anemia has hypocellular marrow with no
abnormal cells, while MDS has hypercellular marrow with dysplastic
cells.
◉ What is a proto-oncogene?
COMPREHENSIVE COURSE REVIEW
◉ What stimulates the release of erythropoietin (EPO)?
Answer: Hypoxia.
◉ What is the sequence of RBC development starting from
hematopoietic stem cells?
Answer: Hematopoietic stem cell → Myeloid progenitor →
Proerythroblast → Reticulocyte → Mature erythrocyte.
◉ What are the requirements for erythropoiesis?
Answer: Iron for hemoglobin synthesis, Vitamin B12 and Folate for
DNA synthesis, and EPO for proliferation signal.
◉ What does a high reticulocyte count indicate?
Answer: Hemolysis or blood loss.
◉ What does a low reticulocyte count indicate?
Answer: Bone marrow suppression or deficiency.
◉ What is the classification of anemia based on MCV?
,Answer: <80 = microcytic, 80-100 = normocytic, >100 = macrocytic.
◉ What are common causes of microcytic anemia?
Answer: Iron deficiency, Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease
(late).
◉ What are common causes of macrocytic anemia?
Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency, Alcohol use, Liver
disease.
◉ What is Polycythemia Vera?
Answer: A myeloproliferative neoplasm caused by JAK2 mutation
leading to autonomous RBC production.
◉ What are the symptoms of Polycythemia Vera?
Answer: Headache, dizziness, pruritus (especially after warm
showers), splenomegaly.
◉ What is the role of Vitamin B12 in the body?
Answer: DNA synthesis and myelin formation.
◉ What are the neurologic signs of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Answer: Paresthesia, loss of vibration sense, ataxia.
, ◉ What is the mechanism of Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)?
Answer: Inflammation leads to increased IL-6, which increases
Hepcidin, blocking iron release from macrophages.
◉ What are Reed-Sternberg cells?
Answer: Large, bilobed 'owl-eye' cells seen in Hodgkin lymphoma,
which are malignant B cells.
◉ What causes Sickle Cell Crisis?
Answer: A mutation in the beta-globin gene leading to HbS
polymerization under hypoxia.
◉ What are the complications of Sickle Cell Crisis?
Answer: Stroke, organ infarction, infection (functional asplenia).
◉ What differentiates Aplastic Anemia from Myelodysplastic
Syndrome (MDS)?
Answer: Aplastic Anemia has hypocellular marrow with no
abnormal cells, while MDS has hypercellular marrow with dysplastic
cells.
◉ What is a proto-oncogene?
