Pathophysiological Mechanism of Anemia and The Virchow's Triad

DQ 4 Q1
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DQ 4 Q1
1. Anemia of chronic disease is a common occurrence in elderly patients. What is the pathophysiological mechanism behind this disease process?
Anemia is a condition with low healthy red blood cells and blood healthy red blood cells (RBC) and is determined as low hemoglobin or hematocrit. The condition can result from blood loss, decreased production, increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), or a combination of these mechanisms. When RBCs appear pale, this indicates reduced hemoglobin concentration and if the nucleated bone marrow is turning out cells prematurely (Marieb & Mitchell, 2018). Since hemoglobin in RBCs is required to transport oxygen to tissue, there is an ineffective gas exchange in anemia. Various organs require specific oxygen concentration and blood flow is essential to meet the oxygen requirement. Redistribution of blood flow then results in kidneys getting more oxygen than is necessary. When hemoglobin drops below the normal level, there is increased cardiac output as a compensatory mechanism as there is a decrease in peripheral resistance. Red blood cells survive for about 120 days, but defects in red blood cells production and iron deficiency affect RBC production. Nonetheless, increased red ce...