Disorders of Erythrocyte Function

Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria

Sickle Cell Anemia has adapted a response against Malaria, and many people with Sickle Cell tend to be able to survive against the infectious disease, Malaria. Therefore, in areas where there is a lot of Malaria, people with Sickle Cell would adapt and be able to survive against a Malaria infection. Someone who has Sickle Cell Anemia and takes good care of themselves will be able to reject Malaria.

Development of Malaria

People who no longer live in parts of the world where malaria is prevalent still develop the disease because of two reasons: travel and genetics. Malaria is predominantly carried through mosquitos, and that means that disease can travel. “In principle it is not surprising that if red cells are in any way abnormal (as they, are, for instance, in thalassemia), this may affect the chance of success of the parasite” (Luzzatto, 2012). In addition, both sickle cell and the development of the malaria are hereditary, and therefore can be passed on from parents to children.

Secondary Polycythemia

The patient should know that Secondary Polycythemia is a type of Polycythemia Vera, or a mutation, that causes a change in the JAK2 gene (which makes the protein that helps the body produces blood cells). It is generally not inherited, but it is a possibility that carriers could pass it on to their offspring (Diseases, n.d.). It is caused by long term exposure to low oxygen levels. This exposure can cause the body to overproduce the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which prompts the body to make more red blood cells than are normal, causing the blood to be thicker. It can also develop in people who have severe lung or heart disease, those who smoke, live at a higher altitude, or work/live around high levels of carbon monoxide. It is rarely caused by tumors. It can be cured, but it depends on the causes (Diseases, n.d.). The patient should know that there is potential for a cure or for treatment and control of the disease.

Alternatives to Iron Supplements

According to the National Institutes of Health, iron is one of the most abundant metals on Earth and is essential to most life forms and to normal human physiology. It is an “integral part of many proteins and enzymes that maintain good healthy… [and is] involved in oxygen transport” (Office of Dietary Supplements, 2007). To say the least, iron is important to life functions.

There are other equally healthy alternatives to taking iron supplements – actual vitamins. Many times these iron pills give patients with iron-deficiency anemia unsavory side effects like vomiting and nausea; it may be better to take an alternative. A small village in Central America does not have access to the supermarket, but there are still positive solutions to this issue. Several meats provide iron easily: fish like tuna, halibut, crab, shrimp, and oysters; meats like chicken liver, dark, and light chicken meat; and beans like navy, black, lima, kidney, lentils. “Storage levels of iron have the greatest influence on iron absorption. Iron absorption increases when body stores are low” (Office of Dietary Supplements, 2007). It is also important to discuss the absorption of the iron, as well. Eating iron through meat will improve the absorption of non-heme iron. Things like tea, soybeans, legumes, and whole grains decrease such absorption. “It is most important to include foods that enhance non-heme iron absorption when daily iron intake is less than recommended, when iron losses are high (which may occur with heavy menstrual losses), when iron requirements are high (as in pregnancy), and when only vegetarian non-heme sources of iron are consumed” (Office of Dietary Supplements, 2007). It is important that the people of this small village eat foods that are full of iron, as well as the foods that allow the iron to be absorbed into their bodies.

References

Diseases and Conditions Index. (N.d.). Polycythemia Vera. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health//dci/Diseases/poly/poly_causes.html.

Luzzatto, L. (2012). Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria. Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3499995/.

Office of Dietary Supplements. (2007). Iron. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/.