Which of the following has strong affinity for hemoglobin and acts in blood to act as "mop-up" molecule to bind hemoglobin?
Ans. c (Haptoglobin). (Ref. Robbin, Pathology, 7th ed., 624; Harrison, Internal medicine 15th ed., s608)Free Hb in plasma is promptly bounded by an alphal globulin, the haptoglobin that acts as 'mop-up' producing a complex that is rapidly cleared by mononuclear phagocyte system, thus preventing excretion in urine; hence in intravascular hemolysis serum haptoglobin is decreased.GENERAL FEATURES OF HEMOLYTIC DISORDERSGeneral examinationJaundice, pallorOther physical findingsSpleen may be enlarged; bossing of skull in severe congenital casesHemoglobinFrom normal to severely reducedMCV, MCHUsually increasedReticulocytesIncreasedBilirubinIncreased (mostly unconjugated)LDHIncreased (up to 10X normal with intravascular hemolysis)HaptoglobinReduced to absent
Ferritin
Transferrin
Haptoglobin
Albumin
Heart, Circulation, and Blood