Acute leukemia - Biology, clinical features and therapy- Goorha Flashcards
Chronic infection or inflammation (growth factor dependent), paraneoplastic syndromes (eg Hodgkin lymphoma; growth factor dependent), myeloproliferative disorders (eg chronic myeloid leukemia; growth factor independent) would cause what mechanism of leukocytosis?
Increased production of WBCs in the bone marrow
Endotoxemia, infection, and hypoxia would cause what mechanism of leukocytosis?
Increased release from the marrow stores
Exercise and catecholamines would cause what mechanism of leukocytosis?
Decreased margination (more cells to pick up in peripheral blood draw)
Clucocorticoids would cause what mechanism of leukocytosis?
decreased extravasation into tissues
Follicular hyperplasia is caused by stimuli that activate:
humoral immune responses.
What cells are found in the mantle zone of 2ndary lymphoid follicles?
Mantle cells (small, resting naive B cells)
What are centroblasts?
darker staining cells within the germinal center that are blastlike, proliferating B cells.
What are centrocytes?
make up a lighter zone of the germinal center. Composed of B cells with irregular or cleaved nuclei contours.
What causes paracortical hyperplasia?
stimuli that trigger T cell mediated immune responses, such as acute viral infections.
What is sinus histiocytosis?
refers to an increase in the number and size of the cells that line lymphatic sinusoids. Although non-specific, this form of hyperplasia may be particularly prominent in lymph nodes draining cancers such as carcinoma of the breast. The lining lymphatic endothelial cells are markedly hypertrophied and macrophages are greatly increased in numbers, resulting in the expansion and distention of the sinuses.
These causes would lead to leukocytosis of this mature cell type:
Acute bact’l infections, especially those caused by pyogenic orgs.; sterile inflammation caused by, for ex: tissue necrosis (MI, burns)
neutrophilic leukocytosis (neutrophilia)
These causes would lead to leukocytosis of this mature cell type:
Allergic disorders such as asthma, hay fever, parasitic infestations; drug rxns; certain malignancies (eg: Hodgkin lyph, and some NH lymphomas); autoimmune disorders (eg: pemphigus vulgaris, dermatitis herpetiformis) and some vasculitides; atheroembolic disease (transient)
Eosinophilic leukocytosis (eosinophilia)
These causes would lead to leukocytosis of this mature cell type:
Rare, often indicative of a myeloproliferative disease (eg: CML)
Basophilic leukocytosis (basophilia)
These causes would lead to leukocytosis of this mature cell type: Chronic infections (eg: TB), bacterial endocarditis, rickettsiosis, and malaria; autoimmune disorders (eg: SLE); inflammatory bowel diseases (eg: ulcerative colitis)
monocytosis
These causes would lead to leukocytosis of this mature cell type:
Accompanies monocytosis in many disorders associated with chronic immunologic stimulation (eg: TB, brucellosis); viral infections (eg: Hep A, CMV, EBV); Bordetella pertussis infection
lymphocytosis
Which is NOT a common symptom of acute leukemia? Fever Nose bleeding Fatigue Hearing loss Rash
Hearing loss is NOT a symptom of leukemia unless cancer invades the ear drum. (uncommon)
Fever- leukemia may directly stimulate fever or immunosuppression can lead to infection.
Nose bleeding- anemia
Rash- cutaneous involvement of leukemia
T/F: acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia can be easily differentiated by review of the peripheral blood smear.
False. Although auer rods are a hallmark of myeloid leukemia blasts, they are not seen in nearly all the blasts present in a smear and thus are not ideal for differentiating the two leukemias. Peripheral blood flow cytometry studies (immunophenotyping) will differentiate the two definitively.
Why do leukemias cause morbidity and mortality?
Bone marrow failure, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
Infiltration of orgens: liver, spleen, lymph nodes, meninges, brain, skin, or testes.
Which carries greater risk of CNS involvement:
ALL or AML?
ALL
Which is more difficult to treat, primary AML (de novo) or secondary AML (develops from MDS or other hematological malignancies) [more common as people age]?
Secondary
Which of the following are major causes of acute myeloid leukemia?
1- Smoking
2- Chemotherapy
3- Pre-existing hematological disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome
All of the above
2 & 3
2 & 3
What comprises the vast majority of etiologies of acute leukemia?
idiopathic
Are acute leukemias usually considered medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment? Why or why not?
Yes. They are very rapidly proliferating and the sooner you catch them, the better the chances of survival.
Malignant transformation of acute leukemia occurs in these cells (stage of maturation):
hematopoietic stem cells or early progenitors
