Question

Apart from suffering from recurrent and prolonged infections, Marie Curie also experienced the following signs and symptoms: fatigue, rapid heart rate, pale skin, easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, and dizziness. Bone marrow transplant was not an option at that time and so blood transfusion was the treatment of choice.

Answer 1

Marie curie was a renowned physicist and chemist who worked in the field of radioactivity.The Curies discovered two new radioactive elements: radium and polonium.

Marie curie was affected with aplastic anaemia due to the chronic exposure to the radiations. She used to work without any protective equipments that were not developed at her time.The constant exposure to the radiations affected the bone marrow and there was less production of blood cells from the bone marrow.This caused severe decrease in the count of blood cells mainly the RBC and the platelets.The severe anaemia resulted in the improper oxygen supply to fulfill the demand of the tissues that causes a condition of hypoxia.This resulted in the fatigue,paleness,increased heart rate and dizziness. the defective platelet and other clotting factors causedeasy bruising and prolonged bleeding.