1) blood, emerg, CV system Flashcards
Iron deficiency anaemia:
- type of anaemia seen?
- GROUPS of causes? 4 (give specific examples)
which group most common causes
insufficient iron to support Hb production -> microcytic, hypochromic anaemia
nb iron is absorbed in duodenum
1) POOR DIET
= children / infants (rarer in adults)
2) MALABSORPTION = coeliac disease - IBD (- gastric bypass) - PPIs reduce iron absorption - low Vit C reduces - H Pylori reduces
4) BLOOD LOSS (commonest)
= menorrhagia
= GI bleed (incl NSAIDs)
- colonic / gastric Ca
IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
- initial symptoms? 2
- late / chronic signs? 4
- worrying symptoms/signs? 7
= SOB on exertion (1st)
= fatigue
- Koilonychia – spoon nails w/ longitudinal ridging
- Atrophic glossitis
- Angular cheilosis – ulceration at corners of mouth
- Pale conjunctiva
WORRYING
- Acute dyspnoea
- Dizzy / Syncope
- Palpitations
- chest pain
- ↑HR
- ↓BP
- bounding pulse
IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA
- bloods (1 all, 2 consider)
- other investigations to consider to investigate cause? 5
BLOODS
= FBC (↓MCH ↓MCV ↓Hb)
- Ferritin
- blood film
TO FIND CAUSE
- coeliac screen (TTG +/-endoscopy)
- urine dip (bladder Ca)
- endoscopy (GI bleed)
- urea breath test (H Pylori)
- DRE (if fresh blood / malaena)
MANAGEMENT of IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA:
- lifestyle? 1
- if not too serious? 1 (incl DOSE)
- if serious? 1 (incl when to give!)
EAT IRON RICH FOODS
- dark green veg, red meat, apricots, prunes, raisins
- have w vit C / orange juice
- less cows milk for kids
FERROUS SULPHATE
- 200mg TDS PO (can get IV)
- continue for at least 3 months to replensih stores
- check FBC 2-4wks after, then 2-4m after
BLOOD TRANFUSION
= if Hb < 70 (<80 if ACS)
Side effects of ferrous sulphate? 6
- nausea
- abdo discomfort
- reflux
- diarrhoea
= constipation - black stools
(don’t worry too much about learning these exactly - just know GI)
Causes of anaemia:
- microcytic? (2c, 3r)
- normocytic? (2c, 3r)
- macrocytic? (4c, 1r)
MICRO = iron-deficiency = chronic inflammation - lead poisoning - sideroblastic - thalassaemia (high no of cells, but small)
NORMO = chronic disease (incl CKD) = acute blood loss - haemolytic - bone marrow disorders - hyposplenism
MACRO = vit B12 deficiency / pernicious = folic acid deficiency = liver disease = hypothyroidism - reticulocytosis
EARLY reactions from blood product transfusions? 6
(within 24hrs)
just list them here (inidividual flashcards for each)
- febrile reactions
- bacterial contamination
- Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
- transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI)
- acute haemolytic reactions
- anaphylaxis
LATE reactions from blood product transfusions? 4
(after 24hrs - norm 5-10 days post)
DESCRIBE cause of each briefly
Late Reactions (> 24hrs, usually 5-10 days post transfusion)
1) INFECTIONS (HIV, Hep B/C, prions, protozoa)
- Risk very small < 1/100,000 due to screening procedures
2) GRAFT VS HOST DISEASE
- Due to T lymphocyte reaction, Immunocompromised most @ risk
3) POST TRANSFUSION PURPURA
- Fall in platelets 5-7 d post (can be lethal)
4) IRON OVERLOAD
- repeat transfusions most at risk
Possible symptoms of all late reactions to blood transfusion? 4
management of each of the 4 types of late reaction?
- fever
- jaundice
- falling Hb
- haemoglobinuria
1) INFECTIONS (HIV, Hep B/C, prions, protozoa)
- Risk very small < 1/100,000 due to screening procedures
= treat infection if poss
2) GRAFT VS HOST DISEASE
- Due to T lymphocyte reaction, Immunocompromised most @ risk
= No effective treatment
3) POST TRANSFUSION PURPURA
- Fall in platelets 5-7 d post (can be lethal)
= Treat with IV Ig
4) IRON OVERLOAD
- repeat transfusions most at risk
= Chelation therapy for @ risk groups
FEBRILE REACTION to blood transfusion:
- who most at risk?
- symptoms? 4
- timing of symptoms?
- management? 2
(1-2% of patients)
From HLA Abs
Pts w/ multiple Hx of transfusions (eg multiparous women) most @ risk
- Fever
- chills
- pruritis
- urticaria
symptoms start 1/1.5 hrs from transfusion
- slow transfusion
- give paracetamol
Paracetamol/antihistamines pre-transfusion reduces incidence of febrile reaction
BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION during blood transfusion:
- what blood product more common with?
- symptoms? 3
- management? 4 (3 to do, 1 to give)
More common in Platelets (stored @ higher temp)
- ↑Temp
- Rigors
- hypotension
- Stop transfusion
- call haematologist
- take blood cultures
- start broad spec Abx
blood transfusion causing FLUID OVERLOAD:
- other transfusiuon-specifc name for this?
- which patients at higher risk? 2
- management? 2 (to give)
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
@ Risk patients incl:
- chronic anaemia
- Heart failure
- give Oxygen
- IV furosemide
(consider central line and exchange trasfusion if still need the blood products)
Give transfusion slowly w/ Diuretic for HF patients
acute haemolytic reaction during transfusion
- aka?
- what nearly always due to?
- symptoms / signs? 6
- tming of onset of symptoms?
- management? (5 to do, 1 to give)
ABO/Rh incompatibility
nearly always due to incorrect labelling (never event)
- ↑Temp
- Flushing
- Hypotension
- Agitation
- Abdo or Chest Pain
- Oozing venepuncture sites
MANAGEMENT
- stop transfusion
- check identity / name on unit
- keep IV line open
- IV FLUID RESUS
- send blood back to lab
- direct coombs test
TRALI
- what does it stand for?
- what is it?
- symptoms/signs? 4
- investigations? 3
- management? 3
TRALI (transfusion related acute lung injury)
ARDS due to anti-leucocyte Abs in plasma (is a diagnosis of exclusion)
- Dyspnoea
- cough
- ↓Sats %
- fine creps B/L
INVESTIGATIONS
- repeat ABGs
- CXR
- anti-leucocyte Abs
MANAGEMENT
- 100% oxygen
- treat as ARDS (CPAP, ventilation, circulatory support)
- removedonor from pool
ANAPHYLAXIS caused by blood transfusion:
- symptoms/signs? 5
- management? (2 to do, 4 to give - incl DOSES)
- Cyanosis
- Bronchospasm/Stridor/SOB
- Soft tissue swelling
- urticaria
- hypotension
(basically symptoms of anaphylaxis)
- stop transfusion
- secure airway / call anaesthetist
- adrenaline 0.5mg (1:1000) IM
- chlorphenamine 10mg
- hydrocortisone 200mg
- salbutamol 5mg nebs
just treat as normal anaphylaxis - but don’t forget to stop transfusion!!
Difference between TACO and TRALI
- pathology?
TACO is just pure fluid overload - similar to acute HF
TRALI is a reaction to something in donor blood which triggers infalm response in lungs
eg BNP and heart size go up in TACO (which also has good response to diuretics - but not TRALI
also see pleural effusions / fluid on lungs in TACO, but not TRALI
TRALI is effectively a diagnosis of exclusion
MACROCYTIC ANAEMIAS
- two different types?
give the 2 conditions that cause one of them and the 4 commoner + 2 rarer conditions that cause the other
MEGALOBLASTIC
- abn. Erythroblasts in bone marrow have delayed maturation of nucleus relative to cytoplasm → defective DNA synthesis
= B12 deficiency
= FOLATE deficiency
NON-MEGALOBLASTIC = liver disease (incl alcohol) = pregnancy = hypothyroidism (severe) = reticulocytosis - myelodysplasia - cytotoxic drugs (eg azathioprine)
Causes of:
- B12 deficiency? 3
- folate deficiency? 4
B12 DEFICIENCY
- coeliac disease
- addison’s
- pernicious anaemia
FOLATE DEFICIENCY
- diet
- malabsorption
- leukaemia
- hepatitis
MACROCYTIC ANAEMIA
- initial symptoms? 2
- late / chronic signs? 3
- worrying symptoms/signs? 7
= SOB on exertion (1st)
= fatigue
- Glossitis (B12/pernicious)
- Angular stomatitis (B12/pernicious)
- Pale conjunctiva
WORRYING
- Acute dyspnoea
- Dizzy / Syncope
- Palpitations
- chest pain
- ↑HR
- ↓BP
- bounding pulse
Investigations for macrocytic anaemia:
- blood for all? 3
- other bloods to find cause? 4
- other investigation if can’t find cause?
= FBC
= B12
= Folate
- blood film (B12/liver/folate)
- LFTs
- TTG (coeliac screen)
- intrinsic factor auto-antibodies (pernicious)
bone marrow biopsy (if no obvious cause, must exclude leukaemia)
Most worrying complication of B12 deficiency:
- speed of onset?
- describe the clinical signs? (incl 1st thing to notice)
SUB-ACUTE COMBINED DEGENERATION of SPINAL CORD (SCDSC)
- insidious onset
SYMMETRICAL LOSS of:
DORSAL COLUMN
-> sensory + LOWER motor neurone signs
CORTICOSPINAL TRACTS -> motor + UPPER motor neurone signs
1st thing = sense of VIBRATION + proprioception
then ATAXIA -> stiffness + weakness
(don’t worry too much about specific signs - just know is symmetrical, slow and pathology)
nb CLASSIC TRIAD
- extensor plantar (UMN)
- absent ankle jerk (LMN)
- absent knee jerk (LMN)
Management of macrocytic anaemia:
- 1st step?
- replacement of vitamins? 2 (incl drug + route + which to start first)
1) TREAT UNDERLYING CAUSE
2) REPLACE VITAMINS
- vit B12 (1st!! - to avoid risk of SCDSC)
- folic acid
B12 = IM injections
- initially alternate days for 2 weeks, then every 3 months for life!
FOLIC ACID = PO tablets OD
- can also increase dietary intake: green veg, nuts, yeast, liver
if deficient in both, replace B12 first + wait for B12 to normalise before starting folic acid
Pernicous anaemia:
- pathology (incl where B12 absorbed)
- age of onset?
- common clinical sign? (incl why)
- bloods? 2
- management? 1
autoimmune gastritis -> reduction in INTRINSIC FACTOR -> reduced B12/IF binding so that B12 cannot be absorbed in TERMINAL ILEUM
tends to be >40s
LEMON TINGE (due to pallor AND mild jaundice)
BLOODS
- parietal cell Ab
- intrinsic factor auto-Ab
B12 injections every 3 months for life (initially more frequently to get levels up)
HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA
- pathology + two different types?
Premature breakdown of RBCs before their natural limyfespan (120 d)
may be INTRAVSCULAR (leading to jaundice) or EXTRAVASCULAR (due to immune complex formation or RBC defect spleen)
HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA - GROUPS of causes:
- acquired? 2
- hereditary? 3
ACQUIRED
1) Immune-mediated
2) NON-Immune mediated
HEREDITARY
1) enzyme defects
2) membrane defects
3) haemoglobinopathies
Acquired Immune-related Haemolytic Anaemias:
- aka?
- give examples of causes (all rare but be aware)
- give basic management (if relevant)
which are coombs +ve and whive -ve
ACQUIRED (immune mediated – all Coombs +ve except*)
A) DRUG-INDUCED
- penicillin, quinine
B) AI HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA (AIHA)
- Warm AIHA (IgG, pts. Require steroids/ immunosuppressants – CLL/SLE)
- Cold AIHA (IgM, worse in cold, pts. Avoid – lymphoma)
C) PAROXYSMAL COLD HAEMOGLOBINURIA
- inf. w/ syphilis/viruses predisposes AI reaction to cold
D) COOMBS -VE AIHA*
- Hepatitis (AI, B/C)
- post-flu/vaccine
- drugs (piperacillin, rituximab)
(don’t worry too much about understanding this alll…)
Acquired NON-immune-related Haemolytic Anaemias:
- causes? (2 commoner, 1 v rare)
1) MALARIA
- RBC haemolysis, Haemoglobinuria → black-water fever
2) MICROANGIOPATHIC HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA (MAHA)
- mechanical disruption of RBCs
3) Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
- rare stem-cell disorder w/ bone marrow failure + thrombophilia
Give three commonest causes of MICROANGIOPATHIC HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA (MAHA)
nb condition is rare though
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
DIC
Pre-eclampsia
HEREDITARY causes of HAEMOLYTIC anaemia:
- enzyme defects? 2
- membrane defects? 1
- haemoglobinopathies? 2
for all list:
- recessive or dominant
- epidemiology
- management (if any)
ENZYME DEFECTS
1) G6PD deficiency (most common)
- X-linked
- middle-east
- precipitated by drugs e.g. aspirin, cipro, sulphonamides, fava beans (avoid these)
2) Pyruvate kinase deficiency
- ↓ATP production limits RBC survival
- autosomal recessive
MEMBRANE DEFECTS
A) Spherocytosis
- spherical RBCs trapped in spleen → extravascular haemolysis + splenomegaly
- autosomal dominant
= mx with folate ± splenectomy
HAEMOGLOBINOPATHIES
1) Sickle cell anaemia
- african / afrocarribean
= autosomal recessive
- see paeds notes
2) thalassaemias
- Mediterranean (incl Italy, Greece + Cyprus)
- Indian subcontinent
- Middle East
- China + southeast Asia
= autosomal recessive
- see paeds notes
CLINICAL PRESENTATION of HAEMOLYTIC anaemia
- general symptoms of anaemia? 5
- symptoms / signs specific to haemolytic anaemias? 4 (say which causes may indicate)
- what FHx symptoms to ask about? 2
GENERAL
- SOB on exertion
- fatigue
- lightheaded
- palpitations
- pallor
SPECIFIC
- jaundice (all haemolytic)
- dark urine (ie haemoglobinuria -> intravascular cause)
- splenomegaly (extravascular, eg CLL, SLE, malaria)
- fever (recent travel? malaria)
FHx
- jaundice
- anaemias
^may indicate hereditary cause
COOMBS TEST
- aka?
- what is it?
- what means if positive?
- when direct + indirect used?
ANTIGLOBULIN TESTING
= immunology laboratory procedure used to detect the presence of antibodies against circulating RBCs in the body, which then induce hemolysis
So if positive then aquired immune-mediated (AIHA) cause of haemolysis
DIRECT - if suspect acquired immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (AIHA)
INDIRECT - used in ant-natal screening
APPROACH to determine CAUSE of HAEMOLYTIC anaemia - how answer each Q?
1) if there RBC breakdown?
2) is there increased RBC production?
3) Is haemolysis mainly extra or intravascular?
4) Why is there haemolysis?
1) IS THERE ↑RBC BREAKDOWN?
- Anaemia with normal or ↑MCV
- ↑Unconjugated Bilirubin from haemolysis (pre-hepatic)
- ↑Urinary urobilinogen (no urinary conjugated bilirubin)
- ↑Serum LDH (released from red cells during turnover)
2) IS THERE ↑RBC PRODUCTION
- ↑Reticulocytes (large immature RBCs) causing a ↑MCV
3) IS HAEMOLYSIS MAINLY EXTRA OR INTRAVASCULAR?
Extravascular = Splenomegaly
Intravascular:
- Haemoglobinuria
- ↑Free plasma Hb (released from RBC)
- ↓Plasma Haptoglobin (this mops up free Hb)
- Haemosiderinaemia (excess Hb is processed by kidneys)
WHY IS THERE HAEMOLYSIS?
- history (FHx, travel, DHx)
- see causes on other flashcard
(don’t worry too. much about this flashcard… went too much in depth…)
Investigations for HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA
- bedside test? 1
- bloods? 6
- imaging to consider? 2 (why)
URINE - haemoglobin + urobilinogen
BLOODS
- FBC
- reticulacytes
- blood film
- coombs test
- LDH
- LFTs (bilirubin)
IMAGING TO CONSIDER
- USS Spleen
- CXR (cardio-pulm status)
Blood film findings for haemoltic anaemia: - low MCH, low MCV? - sickle cells? - schistocytes? - heinz bodies / bite cells? - spherocytes? - thick + thin blood film? list which conditions would produce this finding
↓MCH ↓MCV → Thalassaemia
Sickle cells → sickle cell anaemia
Schistocytes (haemolysis) → MAHA
Heinz bodies/Bite cells → G6PD def.
Spherocytes → Hereditory spherocytosis or AIHA
Thick + Thin blood film → Malaria
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
- what is it?
- characteristic types of cells you see? 2
malignant proliferation of lymphocytes → accumulate in LN (lymphadenopathy) and peripheral blood/organs
REED-STERNBERG cells (large, abnormal lymphocytes that may contain more than one nucleus)
LACUNAR cells (only in some sub-types)
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
- gender + age?
- other risk factors? 4
M > F (2:1)
YOUNG! (early 20s)
- EBV
- obesity
- SLE
- post-transplant
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA:
- Main symptom / sign (describe fully + what makes it WORSE)
- what are A symptoms?
- what are the B symptoms? 3
LYMPHADENOPATHY (75%)
- painless + non-tender
- rubbery
- superficial
- asymmetirical
- typically cervical (also axillary + inguinal)
- size increases + decreases spontaneously
- become PAINFUL WITH ALCOHOL
(if mediastinal -> SVCO, recurrent laryngeal nerve -> hoarseness)
A SYMPTOMS
- no systemic upset, except PRURITIS
B SYMPTOMS
- weight loss (>10% in 6mo)
- fever >38
- night sweats (needing to change clothes)
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
- bloods? 3
- other investigation? (and findings)
incl prognosis of findingd
- ESR (high = poor)
- FBC (low Hb = poor)
- LDH (increased dt increased cell turnover)
Tissue biopsy via LYMPH NODE EXCISION BIOPSY (US guided needle if can’t do excision)
REED STERNBERG and LACUNAR cells
nb 4 different histological classifications (here for ref, but don’t learn!)
A) Nodular sclerosis (70%) most common – good prognosis, Lacunar cells, usually female
B) Mixed cellularity (20%) – good prog, Reed-sternberg
C) Lymphocyte predom (5%) – best prog
D) Lymphocyte deplet (rare) – worst prog
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
- how stage?
- staging system used?
- management?
- prognosis?
Staging via CXR, CT/PET thorax/abdo/pelvis + marrow biopsy
Ann Arbor System (I-IV) – influences Mx + prog
ChemoTx (ABVD) – Adrimycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine
(don’t learn specific chemo drugs - just know have chemo!)
the 4 Ss of hodgkins lymphoma
‘S’ervical LAD
Systemic A + B sx
Splenomegaly
Sternberg cells (reed)
HON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMAS
- definition?
- which cell line norm come from?
- mechanism of action which normally precipitates / causes? (give examples)
- age group norm affected?
all lymphomas WITHOUT Reed-Sternberg cells
typically derived from B-cell lines (diffuse large B-cell lines (DLBCL) most common)
Normally linked with an IMMUNE DEFICIENCY process (either acquired or congenital)
- chemo
- HIV (EBV transformed cells)
- H.Pylori
- Toxins
- congenital
patients tend to be OLD (although some childhood)
NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA - main symptom / sign? additional symptoms/signs if: - skin affected? - oropharynx affected? - gut affected? - systemic symptoms?
Superficial LYMPHADENOPATHY (75% at presentation)
Skin Lympho -> Sezary syndrome (T-cell lymphoma)
Oropharynx Lympho ->
Odynophagia, Obstructed breathing (Waldeyer’s ring lymphoma)
Different types of Gut Lympho
1) Gastric MALT – caused by H.Pylori, involves antrum, multifocal and metastasises late
Gastric Ca w/ systemic Sx like fever, sweats
∆ Important to give triple therapy early in H.Pylori
2) Non-MALT Gastric – DLBCL, high-grade, do not respond well to H.Pylori eradication
3) Small bowel – immunoproliferative (IPSID), MALT or enteropathy/coeliac a/ T-cell lymphoma
Vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss (poor prognosis)
Systemic symptoms – fever, night sweats, weight loss are LESS COMMON than Hodgkin’s lymphoma
NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA: what three features / complications can occur from bone marrow involvement?
ANAEMIA
- reduced RBCs
INFECTIONS
- reduced WBCs
BLEEDING
- reduced platelets
ie PANCYTOPENIA
Investigations for non-hodgkin’s lymphoma:
- 1st line?
- how stage?
- staging systom used?
Marrow biopsy (1st line) for classification and grade
Staging via CXR, CT/PET thorax/abdo/pelvis + marrow biopsy
Ann Arbor System (I-IV) – influences Mx + prog
Two main groups of non-hodgkins lymphoma?
principles of management + prognosis for each?
LOW GRADE
- indolent, incurable, widely disseminated
- E.g. follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, MALT etc.
HIGH GRADE
- aggressive, but curable
- Treat with R-CHOP regimen
Burkitts lymphoma:
- high or low grade?
- age affected?
- characteristic sign?
high grade non-hodgkins lymphoma
childhood
characterised by JAW lymphadenopathy
What complication of all blood cancers can lead to AKI?
which cancer especially high risk?
TUMOUR LYSIS SYNDROME -> AKI
high-grade non-hodgkins lymphoma’s at especially high risk
Blood film appearance / buzz word for high grade non-hodgkins lymphoma?
‘starry sky’ appearance on blood film
MYELOMA
- what is it?
- describe the pathology?
- describe the three organ systems it most commonly affects and the pathology behind this
plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) due to malignant proliferation of plasma cells
i.e. neoplasm of bone marrow plasma cells (occurs during terminal differentiation of B cells to plasma cells) →
A) Diffuse bone marrow infiltration → bone destruction (↑osteoclast/ ↓osteoblast → ↑Ca2+) + marrow failure
B) Secretion of Ig or paraprotein (detectable in urine) → organ dysfunction esp. renal disease
nb Sub-classified by Ab produced – IgG (66%), IgA (33%), some IgM, IgD
SYSTEMS AFFECTS
- blood
- bone
- kidneys (+ other end organs, incl heart)
MYELOMA
- three organ systems it affects?
- symptoms / signs of each of these?
BLOOD = symptoms dt bone marrow infiltration - anaemia -> lethargy - neutropenia -> infections - thrombocytopenia -> bleeding/bruising
BONE
= due to ↑osteoclast ↓osteoblast activity
- backache (common)
- bone pan
- pathological fractures
- vertebral collapse
- HYPERCALCAEMIA (↑bone resorption) – polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, constipation, N+V, confusion, renal stones
KIDNEYS
= due to light Ig chain deposit w/ Tamm-Horsfall protein in distal loop of Henle
- ↓urine output
- AKI
MYELOMA risk factors
- age?
- ethnicity?
Age 70 yo
afro-carribeans > Caucasian (2:1)
nb RAS + oncogene mutation are often pathological cause
MYELOMA
- findings in FBC, U+E and LFTs, ESR?
- SPECIFIC findings on blood film?
FBC – normocytic normochromic anaemia (↓Hb)
Persistently ↑ESR or PV (plasma viscosity)
U+E = ↑Urea ↑Creat ↑Ca2+ (40%)
LFTs = ALP if healing fracture
Blood film = ROULEAUX FORMATION (red cells stack on each other → ↑ESR)
MYELOMA
- specific diagnostic tests for myeloma? 3
(think buzz words!)
(excl imaging)
SERUM electrophoresis
= MONOCLONAL PROTEIN BAND (paraprotein)
URINE electrophoresis
= BENCE JONES protein
“jones = a common name and urine is a common bedside test!”
BONE MARROW BIOPSY
- find plasma cells
(think about it, don’t normally find loads of plasma cells in bone marrow, normally just a few circulating in blood)
MYELOMA:
- two main types of imaging?
findings on these (incl buzz words)
what sort of bone lesions seen?
1) SKELETAL SURVEY X-Ray: - chest - spine - skull - pelvis
find LYTIC (punched out) bone lesions
e. g.:PEPPER-POT SKULL, Vertebral collapse, Fractures, Osteoporosis
2) nuclear imaging (Tc-99m MIBI) and PET
MYELOMA:
- diagnostic criteria?
- major criteria?
- minor criteria?
Criteria requires 1 major and 1 minor
MAJOR
- Monoclonal protein bands (paraprotein) in serum or urine electrophoresis
- > 30% Plasma cells on marrow biopsy
- Plasmacytoma on marrow biopsy
MINOR
- 10-30% plasma cells on marrow biopsy
- Minor ↑Monoclonal protein in serum or urine EP
- Osteolytic bone lesions on X-ray, CT/MRI, tc99-m MIBI, PET
- Low Ab levels (not produced by cancer cells) in blood
DON’T BOTHER LEARNING THESE PRECISELY - just be vaguely aware
MANAGEMENT of MYELOMA:
- to treat the cancer? 1
- to manage bone efffects? 1 (drug class + name examples)
- to manage haem effects? 2
- to manage renal effects? 1
- to manage infections? 2
- what to monitor? 5
TREAT MYELOMA
- chemo (intensive or low intensity)
BONE
- Bisphosphonates (help ↓fractures ↓bone pain ↓Ca2+) - clondronate, zolendronate
BLOOD
- blood transfusions
- erythropoetin
RENAL
- fluid + follow AKI guidelines
INFECTIONS
- antiobiotics (as appropriate)
- regular IV Ig infusions
MONITOR
- FBC
- U+E (creatinine)
- Ca 2+
- serum electrophoresis
- urine electrophoresis
^every 2-3 months
MYELOMA
- prognosis?
- two serious complications? (not incl bone, blood + renal issues as described in other flashcards)
INCURABLE
- chronic: relapsing + remitting
- treatment aimed at controlling disease + prolonging survival
AMYLOIDOSIS
- presenta as heart failure + nephrotic syndrome
METASTATIC SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION (MSCC)
- high risk for this
what is MGUS?
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
If raised monoclonal proteins (paraprotein) but don’t meet criteria for MYELOMA
DIC
- what stand for?
- describe pathological process?
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
dysregulation of coagulation + fibrinolysis → widespread clotting → all coagulation factors used up → resultant massive haemorrhages
Release of tissue factor (TF) from trauma or vasc damage → exposed to circulation (not normally)→ binds to coag factors → activation of extrinsic pathway → triggers intrinsic pathway
Thrombin and plasmin activation
(don’t know in detail but be aware of general principles)
DIC
- common groups of causes? 5
- Malignancy (leukaemia)
- sepsis
- trauma
- obstetric events (HELLP, amniotic fluid emboli, pre-eclampsia)
- Anti-phospholipid syndrome
DIC
- clinical presentation?
Large Bruising
/ Bleeding – can be anywhere
> 3 unrelated sites is highly suggestive (ENT, GI, resp, venepuncture site)
Skin: Petechiae, Purpura, Acral cyanosis, Necrosis of lower limbs, local infection
Renal failure
ARDS
DIC: specific findings on:
- clotting? 2
- FBC? 1
- blood film? 1
CLOTTING
- ↑PT
- ↑APTT
bleeding time gets longer
FBC
- ↓Platelets (get used up)
(also ↓Fibrinogen)
BLOOD FILM
- broken RBCs (shistocytes)
MANAGEMENT:
- criteria for platelet trasfusion?
- other potential management? 2
(nb management aside from treating the underlying condition!)
<50 platelets → Platelet transfusion
Replace clotting factors → FFP (fresh frozen plasma)
Activated protein C (reduces mortality in sepsis/organ failure)
DDx for DIC? 2
blood findings for both of these?
Von Willebrands Disease – bleeding into mucosa → only ↑bleeding time and ↑APTT
Vitamin K def - only ↑INR and ↑APTT
(don’t bother learning these! - this flashcard is just for interest!)
THROMBOPHILIA
- what is it?
- what most commonly present with?
increased tendency to clot
unprovoked DVT or PE
(nb can also present with recurrent miscarriages)
THROMBOPHILIA:
- most common cause?
- other causes to be vaguely aware of? 4
Factor V leiden
- aka activated protein C resistance
- heterozygous (5%), homozygous (0.5%)
- prothrombin gene mutation
- protein C + S deficiencies
- anti-thrombin III deficiency
- anti-phospholipid syndrome
THROMBOPHILIA:
- investigations? 5
- management? (regardless of cause)
- FBC
- clotting
- blood film
- lupus
- assays for anti-thrombin + protein C+S
^clotting anf FBC first then talk to specialist
long-term prophylactic ANTI-COAGULATION (eg warfarin or DOAC)
THROMBOCYTOPENIA
- what is it defined as?
- what level of platelets do you give platelet transfusion?
low platelet count
< 150
transfuse platelets if < 50
THROMBOCYTOPENIA CAUSES:
- congenital? 4
- decreased production of platelets? 8
- reduced survival of platelets? 7
- platelet dysfunction? 4
CONGENITAL
- Fanconi’s
- Wiskott-Aldrich
- Bernard-Soulier
- Leukaemia
↓PRODUCTION
- EBV
- rubella
- mumps
- HIV
- aplastic anaemia
- malig
- chemo
- alcohol
↓SURVIVAL
- ITP
- SLE
- RA
- sarcoidosis
- DIC
- HUS
- HELLP
PLATELET DYSFUNC.
- vWD
- CKD
- valve disease
- myeloma
don’t bother learning all!
clinical presentation of thrombocytopenia:
- signs on skin? 4
- bleeding from orifices? 8
DERM SIGNS
- Spontaneous bruising
- Petichiae
- Purpuria
- Ecchymoses
BLEEDING FROM ORIFFICES
- Epistaxis (frequent and prolonged)
- Bleeding gums (common in vWD)
- Haemoptysis
- Haematemesis
- Haematuria
- Menorrhagia
- Haematochezia (fresh blood PR)
- Melaena
THROMBOCYTOPENIA:
- investigations to consider? 4
- two main components of management?
- FBC
- clotting
- blood smear
- bone marrow biopsy (if >60)
MANAGEMENT
- treat underlying cause
- replace platelets + monitor as necessary
PANCYTOPENIA:
- three groups of blood cells that are reduced? (+ describe how each may present)
- which blood test used as screening? 1
ANAEMIA
- dyspnoea, fatigue, weak, pale, tachy
NEUTROPENIA
- infections
THROMBOCYTOPENIA
- epistaxis, bruising, bleeding
(nb depending on the cause, may also get other symptoms but these are the symptoms of the pancytopenia itself)
FBC
- low RBC, neutrophils + platelets
PANCYTOPENIA
- infections that can cause? 3
- other causes? 5
- iatrogenic cause?
- Hep B
- EBV
- parvovirus B19
- vit B12 def
- folate def
- aplastic anaemia
- lymphoma
- myeloma
adverse drug reactions:
- trimethoprim, chloramphenicol penicillamine, carbimazole, carbamazepine, tolbuatamide
Management of pancytopenia (aside from treating underlying cause)
- options? 3
- emergency? (how define + how to manage)
- blood transfusion
- platelet transfusion
- bone marrow transplant
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA
- fever AND neutrophils < 1
- bufalo
- broad spec abx (eg tazocin)
Von Willebrands Disease
- inheritance pattern?
- 4 most common symptoms?
- management options? 3
autosomal dominant
- most common inherited bleeding disorder
(acts as a platelet deficiency disorder)
- bruising
- menorrhagia
- epistaxis
- bleeding gums
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
- tranexamic acid (for mild)
- desmopressin (increases levels of vWF)
- factor VIII replacement
LEUKAEMIAS:
- which cells affected?
- demographics affected?
of:
- ALL
- AML
- CLL
- CML
ALL
= lymphoblasts
- children (“L for Little people”)
- most common malignancy affecting children (peak 2-5 years)
AML
= myeloidblasts
- “M for Middle aged + Mature (elderly)”
CLL
= Lymphocytes (almost always B lymphocytes)
CML = granular cells (basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils) - elderly pts 60-70yo "M for Mature" - can progress to AML (80%) or ALL (20%) - poor prognosis
“makes sense that the acute leukaemias would be blasts as these reporoduce fast!”