Abnormal White Blood Cell Counts Flashcards
What is pancytopenia
All lineages reduced
What are the types of malignant haemopoeisis
Leukaemia (lymphoid, myeloid) = cancer of blood cells
Myelodysplasia = immature cells
Myeloproliferative = too many cells
Where are neutrophils found and how do they develop
Found in the peripheral blood
- myeloblast
- promyelocyte
- myelocyte
- metamyelocyte
- neutrophil (only one in the peripheral blood)
How are cell numbers controlled
Different cytokines will increase different cell numbers
DNA dictates differentiation and proliferation of blood cells
Which cytokines are involved in increasing cell numbers (erythroid, lymphoid and myeloid)
Erythroid - Erythropoietin
Lymphoid - IL2
Myeloid - G-CSF, M-CSF
Which cells are found in the peripheral blood
Immunocytes - T, B and NK cells
Phagocytes - granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) and monocytes
Why may there be an increase WBC production
Reactive - infection or inflammation
Malignant - leukaemia or myeloproliferative
Why may there be a decrease in WBC production
Impaired bone marrow function - Aplastic anaemia - Post chemo - Metastatic cancer - Haematological cancer B12 or folate deficiency
Why may there be an increase in cell survival
Failure of apoptosis e.g. acquired cancer causing mutation in some lymphomas
Why may there be a decrease in cell survival
immune breakdown
What is the difference between primary and secondary causes of an elevated blood count
Primary = malignancy
Secondary = a normal response to stimulus
There is an elevated blood count of mature cells and all lineages are raised. What is the possible cause
Response to infection (secondary)
There is an elevated blood count of mature cells and only one lineage is raised. What is the possible cause
Response to infection (secondary)
There is an elevated blood count of mature cells and lymphocytes raised. What is the possible cause
Either chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (primary) or a response to viral infection
Describe the blood count of acute leukaemia
Elevated count of immature cells
Blasts are present
Platelets and Haemoglobin is low