Basics of Haematology Flashcards

1
Q

Components of Blood

A

Plasma, buffy coat and red blood cells

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2
Q

Plasma

A

Clotting or coagulation factors, albumin, antibodies

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3
Q

Buffy coat

A

Platelets, white cells or leucocytes

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4
Q

Functions of Blood (Transport)

A

Red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Plasma transports nutrients, waste and messages??

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5
Q

Functions of Blood (Maintenance of Vascular Integrity)

A

Prevention of leaks (platelets and clotting factors)

Prevention of blockages (anticoagulants and fibrinolytics)

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6
Q

Functions of blood (prevention of pathogens)

A

Phagocytosis and killing (granulocytes and monocytes)

Antigen recognition and antibody formation (lymphocytes)

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7
Q

Haematopoisesis

A

The process whereby blood cells are made. Pluripotent haematopoietic stem cell to uncommitted stem cells and lymphocyte stem cells (lymphocytes). These can become erythroblasts (erythrocytes), megakarycytes (platelets), myeloid cells (neutrophil, monocyte, basophil)

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8
Q

Stem cells

A

These are totipotent and undergo self-renewal.

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9
Q

Home to marrow niche

A

CXCR4 (antagonist plerixafor)

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10
Q

Bone marrow

A

Present in the bones. Stroma and sinusoids.

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11
Q

Erythroid Differentiation

A

Erythroblast - reticulocyte - erythrocyte

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12
Q

Erythropoietin

A

Made in the kidney in response to hypozia

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13
Q

Reticulocyte count

A

A measure of red cell production

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14
Q

Consequences of anaemia

A

Poor gas transfer resulting in dyspnoea and fatigue.

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15
Q

What causes anaemia

A

Decreased production of red cells due to deficiency in haematinics (iron, folate and vitamin B12) or thalassaemia (any of a group of hereditary haemolytic diseases caused by faulty haemoglobin synthesis)

Increased loss due to bleeding or haemolysis

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16
Q

Red Cells

A

microcytes (an unusually small red blood cell, associated with certain anaemias)

Macrocytes (A macrocytic class of anemia is an anemia (defined as blood with an insufficient concentration of hemoglobin) in which the red blood cells (erythrocytes) are larger than their normal volume)

Burr cells (echinocytes) abnormal cell membrane characterized by many small, evenly spaced thorny projections

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17
Q

Function of platelets

A

Haemostasis and immune function.

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18
Q

Production of platelets is regulated by

A

Thrombopoietin which is produced in the liver, regulated by platelet mass feedback. Lifespan is 7 days.

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19
Q

Function of neutrophils

A

To ingest and destroy pathogens, especially bacteria and fungi

20
Q

Regulation of neutrophols

A

Macrophages and Interleukin

21
Q

Life span of neutrophils

A

1-2 days

22
Q

Neutrophil differentiation

A

Blast cells, promyelocyte, myelocyte, metamyelocyte and neutrophil

23
Q

Neutrophilia

A

Raised neutrophils caused by infection (G-CSF) and inflammation

24
Q

Neutropenia

A

Decreased neutrophil production due to drugs or marrow failure

Increased consumption (sepsis or autoimmune)

Altered function (chronic granulomatous disease)

25
Q

Monocytes function

A

To ingest and destroy pathogens. Subset of monocytes migrate into tissues to become macrophages or dendritic cells.

26
Q

Monocytosis

A

Usually associated with neurophilia. Due to mycobacterial infection

27
Q

Monocytopenia

A

Mycobacteria in hairy cell leukaemia

28
Q

Other myeloid cells

A

Eosinophils and basophils

29
Q

Lymphocytes

A

these are adaptive rather than innate. They have immunological memory. Surface antigens: CD markers.

30
Q

Lymphocytosis

A

Infectious mononucleosis and pertussis

31
Q

Lymphopenia

A

Lymphoma or post-viral

32
Q

Sub types of lymphocytes

A

B cells
T cells – Helper, cytotoxic, regulatory
NK cells

33
Q

Where are lymphocytes produced

A

B cells mature in bone marrow, T cells in thymus

34
Q

Antibodies

A
Adaptors between pathogens and clearance systems 
‘Kiss of death’
Opsonisation
Fix complement
Block binding
35
Q

Combinatorial diversity

A

Any V-region combined with any J or D-region then C-region

36
Q

Junctional Diversity

A

At any join, additional nucleotides added by enzyme (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, TdT)

37
Q

Combinatorial diversity between chains

A

Each alpha chain pairs with a beta chain

Each light chain pairs with a heavy chain

38
Q

Selection of B cells in the bone marrow

A

if gene rearrangement results in a functional receptor the cell is selected to survive – positive selection
If the receptor recognises ‘self’ antigens - the cell is triggered to die – negative selection

39
Q

Human Leucocyte Antigen Class 1

A

Displays internal antigens on all nucleated cells

40
Q

HLA Class 2

A

Displays antigens eaten by professional antigen presenting cells

41
Q

Diagnostic tools of blood disorders

A

FBC, Clotting times, bleeding times for platelets, chemical assays (iron, B12, folate), marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy, lymph node biopsy, imaging

42
Q

Haematology Treatments (Replacement)

A

Blood
Haematinics
Coagulation factors
Plasma exchange

43
Q

Haematology Treatments (Drugs)

A
Cytotoxics
Monoclonal antibodies
Inhibitors of cellular proliferation
Immunosuppressants
Inhibitors of coagulation
Inhibitors of fibrinolysis
44
Q

Hypersplenism

A

Pancytopenia (deficiency of all three cellular components of the blood (red cells, white cells, and platelets).

45
Q

Hyposplenism

A

Infections with encapsulated bacteria, red cell changes

46
Q

Splenomegaly

A
Infectious 
-acute eg EBV, CMV
-chronic bacterial eg TB, 
 brucella, SBE
-chronic parasitic eg malaria, 
 leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis

Haematological-malignant

  • various leukaemias and lymphoma
  • myeloproliferative disorders

Portal hypertension

Haemolytic disorders
-hereditary spherocytosis, thalassaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, autoimmune

Connective tissue disorders

  • SLE
  • Felty Syndrome