StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia - Case Study Example

Cite this document
Summary
This case study "Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia" presents a case scenario involving a 56-year old patient to develop a comprehensive understanding of pernicious anemia. This autoimmune disorder is one of the most common causes of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency in the world…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.4% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia"

It is of immense importance for the nursing practitioner (NP) to ask the patient about paresthesias and ataxia as these two sensory abnormalities underscore deficiencies of vitamin B12 in patients (Kumar, 2007). Owing to the fact that vitamin B12 deficiency causes pernicious anemia, the NP will be better placed to verify a diagnosis of pernicious anemia if the patient reports sensations of tingling, numbness, crawling, deadness, constriction in the abdomen and chest, or gait abnormalities. In terms of pathophysiology, vitamin B12 is an important component in the formation of red blood cells (erythrocytes) which are required to transport oxygen from the lungs to other organs of the body.

Patients with paresthesias and ataxia (e.g., unsteady gait, numbness, etc) are likely to have a vitamin B12 deficiency as this important vitamin is needed for the proper functioning and health of nerve tissue. As such, knowledge of whether the patient has episodes of paresthesias and/or ataxia will be instrumental in identifying vitamin B12 deficiency, which in turn is known to cause pernicious anemia (Rote & McCane, 2014; Toh & Alderuccio, 2014).          Vitamin B12 Research has demonstrated that individuals suffering from pernicious anemia are unable to generate adequate amounts of IF (intrinsic factor) in their stomach to aid in the absorption of vitamin B12 which is needed to make red blood cells (Toh & Alderuccio, 2014).

As such, individuals with pernicious anemia need to be facilitated to absorb vitamin B12 using other mechanisms due to the incapacity of IF to bind vitamin B12 and also to assist in its absorption. Drawing from this explanation, it is clear that the NP prescribed vitamin B12 by intramuscular injection rather than orally to aid in its absorption since the patient’s digestive system is unable to absorb B12 properly. It is important to note that the loss of stomach cells (parietal cells) that nurture and develop the IF may be due to a host of factors, including the obliteration of the body’s own immune system, untreated stomach infections, and surgery to the stomach or small intestine (Rote & McCane, 2014; Toh & Alderuccio, 2014).

Causes of Pernicious Anemia Research is consistent that pernicious anemia is strictly an autoimmune disorder that is caused by insufficient levels of IF in the stomach or a genetic defect that prevents young children from making IF, resulting in vitamin B12 deficiency (Toh & Alderuccio, 2004). If the patient in the case scenario is diagnosed with paresthesias and ataxia in addition to the described symptoms (fatigue, pallor, dyspnea with exertion and palpitations), for example, the NP can make a firm conclusion that she is suffering from pernicious anemia arising from the inability of her body to absorb vitamin B12.

As already mentioned, vitamin B12 insufficiency can be caused by inadequate diet (e.g., meat, eggs, and milk), incapacity of the small intestine to absorb vitamin B12 due to surgery or abnormal bacterial growth, as well as certain intestinal diseases such as the Crohn’s disease.           

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia Case Study, n.d.)
Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia Case Study. https://studentshare.org/nursing/1893686-alterations-in-oxygen-transport
(Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia Case Study)
Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia Case Study. https://studentshare.org/nursing/1893686-alterations-in-oxygen-transport.
“Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia Case Study”. https://studentshare.org/nursing/1893686-alterations-in-oxygen-transport.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Alterations in Oxygen Transport: Pernicious Anemia

Iron Deficient Person and Fatigue and Illness

Introduction: Iron has multiple roles in human body such as component of oxygen transport proteins (haemoglobin), myoglobin & oxidative and respiratory chain enzymes dehhydrogenases and cytochromes, yet iron deficiency is common.... ntroduction: Iron has multiple roles in human body such as component of oxygen transport proteins (haemoglobin), myoglobin & oxidative and respiratory chain enzymes dehhydrogenases and cytochromes, yet iron deficiency is common.... “Iron depletion without anemia and physical performance in young women....
2 Pages (500 words) Research Paper

Physiology and Function

Erythrocytes: Erythrocyte is another term for red blood cells, and in general, as already discussed above, erythrocyte are involved in oxygen transport throughout the body, emanating from the lungs.... This is the condition of not having red blood cells in sufficient quantities, and so depriving the blood system and the body with the oxygen it needs, given that red blood cells are responsible for oxygen transport.... Where hemoglobin levels are low, a person is expected to have… anemia: anemia is a health condition related to the blood....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Roots and Symptoms of Anemia

anemia is a condition in which a patient has a reduced number of blood cells occasioned by a deficiency in the bodys mineral salts that are necessary for production of hemoglobin.... The process generally follows three stages where the iron deficiency begins, hemoglobin is affected… The low blood cell count reduces the oxygen delivery in body tissues and is manifested in several ways depending of the severity; furthermore, it can make worse any other pre-existing conditions. Minor symptoms of anemia anemia is a condition in which a patient has a reduced number of blood cells occasioned by a deficiency in the bodys mineral salts that are necessaryfor production of hemoglobin....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Cryopreservation and Anemia in Medicine

While anemia due to iron and vitamin deficiency is most common, other types of anemia include- Hemolytic anemia, pernicious anemia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell Anemia etc.... ANEMIAMy first brush with anemia was when I was inflicted by it.... anemia is the most common blood disorder which arises when there is a decrease in the number of RBC's or in the amount of hemoglobin in the body.... The degree of the disease depends on the severity and the type of anemia....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Health history and discharge. (Alterations in Pulmonary and Kidney Function)

Health History and Discharge Orders (alterations in Pulmonary and Kidney Function) Sallie Mae Fisher is an elderly lady who is in that stage of life where elderly people are prone to lifestyle diseases since the immune system and the body tends to be weak.... However, After leaving hospital… This is caused by the following problems Sallie needs extra oxygen in the house.... This is caused by the following problemsLack of OxygenSallie needs extra oxygen in the house....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Symptoms and Treatments of Anaemia

Three major factors have been identified to cause anemia.... Excessive loss of blood through such anemia anemia is a condition that is identifiable by lack of enough red blood cells in the body or insufficiency of hemoglobin in red blood cells.... Three major factors have been identified to cause anemia.... Alternatively, the rate of degeneration of red blood cells may be higher than the rate of regeneration to identify shortage into anemia....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Pathophysiology: The Biological Basis for Disease in Adults and Children

According to McCance & Huether (2014), it is paramount to note that Iron deficiency states will present with hypo-regenerative and microcytic anemia (p.... This means that she lacks the transportation of adequate oxygen which is dependent on the number and circumstances of red anemia due: As per the symptoms presented, the patient is suffering from iron deficiency anemia.... According to McCance & Huether (2014), it is paramount to note that Iron deficiency states will present with hypo-regenerative and microcytic anemia (p....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

Transport of gas

Moreover, the P50 value of the fetal transport of gas TASK 3 a) The difference in percentage saturation between the hemoglobin of the fetus and the mother at partial pressures of oxygen (P02) of 4kPa is 14%.... The affinity of fetal hemoglobin for oxygen is greater than the maternal hemoglobin (Hall, 2010, p.... This facilitates the… Therefore, at low partial pressures the oxygen saturation for the fetal hemoglobin is higher than the maternal hemoglobin facilitating transfer of oxygen to the fetus (Sherwood, 2015, p....
2 Pages (500 words) Coursework
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us