Aplastic Anaemia + Polycythaemia Flashcards
How common is Aplastic anaemia
Rare
Defining features of aplastic anaemia
- Pancocytopenia (reduction in all major cell lines, RBC, WBC and platelets)
- Hypocellularity (aplasia of bone marrow)
Main causes of aplastic
- Inherited
- Idiopathic acquired (67%)
- Benzene, toluene, glue sniffing
- Chemotherapeutic drugs
- Antibiotics
- Infections
Pathophysiology of Aplastic anaemia
- Reduction in pluripotent stem cells together with a fault in those remaining or an immune reaction against them so they are unable to repopulate bone marrow
Clinical presentation of aplastic anaemia
- Anaemia
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Bleeding
- Bleeding gums, bruising with minimal trauma and blood blisters in the mouth
What can aplastic anaemia be mistaken for
NHL
Myeloma
Blood count in aplastic
Pancocytopenia + low reticulocyte count
Bone marrow examination aplastic
Hypocellular marrow + increased fat spaces
How is aplastic treated
- Antibiotics urgently to prevent infections
- Red cell and platelet transfusion
- Bone marrow transplant
Describe immunosuppressive therapy after bone marrow transplant for aplastic anaemia
- ANTHITHYMOCYTE GLOBULIN and CICLOSPORIN
in over 40 or below 40 with severe disease + no HLA identical donor
What is polycythaemia
Increase in Hb, haematocrit and red cell count (all conc.)
Why is PCV a more reliable indicator of polycthaemia than Hb
Disproportionally low in iron deficiency
What can Polycythaemia be divided into
ABSOLUTE (increase in RBC mass) +RELATIVE (decreased plasma vol + normal RBC mass)
What is PRIMARY ABSOLUTE POLYCYTHAEMIA
- P. VERA
MUTATIONS IN ERYTHROPOIETIN RECEPTOR
HIGH OXYGEN AFFINITY Hbs
What is SECONDARY ABSOLUTE POLYCYTHAEMIA
- Hypoxia
2. High erythropoietin secretion
What is APPARENT POLYCYTHAEMIA
Chronic form associated with obesity, hypertension + high alcohol and tobacco intake