Which of the following is a disorder of red blood cells?

UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: UP CHO - 10 September 2021

Explanation

Thalassemia is a hereditary disorder that directly impacts the synthesis of globin chains, which are fundamental building blocks of hemoglobin within red blood cells (RBCs).
This defective production of hemoglobin leads to the formation of abnormal, fragile RBCs (hypochromic and microcytic), resulting in their premature destruction (hemolysis) and causing anemia.
Unlike anemia, which is a general state, thalassemia is a specific, primary genetic disease of the red blood cell itself.

Option A: Anaemia is a broad term describing a state of low RBCs or hemoglobin. It is a sign or symptom of many underlying conditions, not a specific primary disorder in itself.
Option C: Haemophilia is a disorder of the blood's clotting system, caused by a deficiency in coagulation factors (like Factor VIII or IX). It does not involve the red blood cells.
Option D: Leukaemia is a cancer of the hematopoietic tissues, characterized by the uncontrolled production of abnormal white blood cells (WBCs). It is a disorder of WBCs, not RBCs.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Classification of Hematological Disorders helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the specific blood component affected by a disorder is critical for nurses to anticipate patient needs. For example, a patient with thalassemia may require blood transfusions, while a patient with haemophilia needs bleeding precautions, and a patient with leukaemia may undergo chemotherapy.
Accurate diagnosis guides treatment. Misclassifying a primary RBC disorder like thalassemia as simple iron-deficiency anemia could delay appropriate genetic counseling and management.
What if the question asked for an acquired disorder of red blood cells? An example would be Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, where the body's own immune system attacks and destroys its red blood cells.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: "disorder of red blood cells". This directs you to focus on diseases primarily affecting erythrocytes.
Evaluate each option based on the primary blood component it affects.
Recognize that Haemophilia is a clotting disorder (plasma factors) and Leukaemia is a white blood cell cancer, eliminating them as possibilities.
Differentiate between Anaemia and Thalassemia. Anaemia is a general condition (low RBCs/hemoglobin), while Thalassemia is a specific genetic disease causing abnormal RBCs.
Conclude that Thalassemia is the most precise answer for a primary "disorder of red blood cells" as it originates from a defect within the cell's core function (hemoglobin synthesis).

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