Block 34 Week 6 Flashcards
signs and symptoms of anemia?
- General fatigue
- Weakness
- Dyspnea on exertion
- Pallor
vegan diet?
B12 def - can only be obtained from animal sources
alcoholism?
B9 (folate) def
autoimmune conditions?
- autoimmune conditions like lupus or lymphoma can predispose to autoimmune hemolytic anemia
features that would indicate IDA caused by bleeding?
- melena, epistaxis, hematochezia, hematemesis, or menorrhagia indicates bleeding.
features indicating haemolysis?
- Jaundice and dark urine, in the absence of liver disease, suggest hemolysis.
Diffuse severe bone or chest pain may suggest?
sickle cell disease,
stocking-glove parasthesia?
may suggestvitamin B12 deficiency.
jaundice may suggest
acute bleeding
splenomegaly?
may occur with hemolysis, a hemoglobinopathy, connective tissue diseases, myeloproliferative disorders, infection, or cancer.
peripheral neuropathy suggests
B12 def
fever and murmus may suggest
infective endo
what are the microcytic anaemias?
- altered heme or globin synthesis
- iron deficiency
- thalassemia
- sideroblastic anemia
- lead poisoning
- anemia of CD - MCV is microcytic or borderline microcytic - but more commonly a normocytic anemia
what are the megaloblastic macrocytic anaemias?
- impaired DNA synthesis - B12, B9 deficiency,
- methotrexate
what are the normoblastic macrocyctic anaemias?
- alcohol use disorders
- chemo drugs like hydroxyurea or antifolate
- hypothyoridism
- liver disease
- pregnancy
what are the normocytic anaemuas?
- deficiency in EPO or inadequate resp to it
- haemorrhage
- anemia of CD
- CKD
- aplastic anemia
- acute blood loss
- haemolytic anemia
reticulocyte count?
- higher values indicate excessive production (reticulocytosis); in the presence of anemia, reticulocytosis suggests excessive RBC destruction.
- Low numbers in the presence of anemia indicate decreased RBC production.
general symptoms of anaemia?
- Dyspnoea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Syncope
- Confusion
- Palpitations
- Angina
underlying causes of anaemia - table
Signs of anaemia
- Bounding pulse
- Postural hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Conjunctival pallor
- shock
mneumonic for microcytic anaemia
- Fe
- thalassemia
- sideroblastic anemia
- chronic disease
IDA signs?
- Atrophic glossitis
- Angular Stomatitis
- Koilonychia
- Pica – craving non-food substances such as ice or dirt
- Restless leg syndrome
- Rarely, tachycardia and signs of heart failure
sideroblastic anaemia?
- group of disorders characterised by dysfunctional haemoglobin synthesis in the mitochondria.
- This leads to the formation of ring sideroblasts in the cytoplasm and microcytic cells secondary to the disease pathogenesis.
deficiency?
causes of sideroblactic anaemia?
- Causes include genetic enzyme deficiency, and environmental causes: vitamin B6 deficiency, lead poisoning and chronic alcoholism.
thalassemia?
- absence of one of the globin genes -> accumulation of the excess chain type in red blood cells which predisposes them to oxidative damage
- reduced hb synthesis -> microcytic anemia
pres of thalassemia?
- general anemia symptoms
- Due to the excessive haemolysis secondary to oxidative damage, jaundice may also be apparent.
- In beta thalassaemia major the bone marrow expands to compensate for the ineffective erythropoiesis leading to jaw and forehead expansion – ‘thalassaemia facies’.
- These individuals may also be prone to more infections.
examination for thalassemia?
may have hepatomegaly or splenomegaly.
There are some clinical features specific to haemolytic anaemias, including:
- Jaundice
- Splenomegaly
- Gallstones
- Aplastic crisis after parvovirus infection
what is elevated in haemolysiss?
- Bilirubin and LDH are elevated in a haemolysis picture due to increased cell breakdown.
- Reticulocytosis may be seen, which is the increase of the red blood cell progenitor, the reticulocyte, in the circulation.
- This occurs as the bone marrow attempts to compensate for the excessive RBC breakdown.
macrocytic anaemia mneumonic?
FAT RBC
- Foetus (pregnancy)
- Alcohol excess
- Thyroid (hypo)
- Reticulocytosis
- B12 and folate deficiency
- Chronic liver disease
perinicious anaemia?
- intrinsic factor normally secreted by parietal cells
- Pernicious anaemia occurs when this process is disrupted due to autoantibodies destroying the parietal cells or intrinsic factor itself.
neuropsychiatric features of b12 deficiency?
- when its long standing or severe
- neuro:
- peripheral neuropathy
- subacute degen of the cord
- focal demylination
- psych:
- depression
- personality change
- memory loss
where is folate abs?
- Normal absorption of folate occurs in the proximal part of the small intestines.
- Conditions that affect this area of the bowel, such as coeliac disease, can lead to deficiency.
when is folate def more common?
malnutrition and pregnancy
sideroblastic anaemia?
- enough iron is produced but can’t be carried into the hb
aplastic anaemia?
- bone marrow failure - body unable to make sufficient numbers of blood cells
- assoc w cancers
- deficiency of all typpes: red. white and platelets
b12 def blood film?
- Blood film reveals amegaloblastic anaemia +/- hypersegmented neutrophils.
Mx of B12 deficiency?
- B12 replacement - IM
- Importantly, in patients with co-existing folate deficiency, B12must be replaced first as folate replacement in this setting may precipitate neurological complications (e.g. subacute degeneration of the cord).
perinicious anaemia?
- B12 def from autoimmune destruction of gastric epithelium
- anti-parietal cell ab
- anti-IF ab
perinicious anaemia increases risk of?
- inc risk of gastric malignancy - upper GI endoscopy needed at diagnosis
Ix for perinicious anaemia?
- FBC
- peripheral blood smear
- serum vitamin B12 and folate levels
- testing for iF ab and parietal cell ab
- Schilling test for B12 def
- bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
symptoms of haemological malignancies?
- Fatigue
- weight loss
- fever and night sweats - esp lymphomas
- freq infections
- easy bruising and bleeding
- Swollen, painless lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin are common in lymphomas and some leukemias.
signs of haem malignancies?
- splenomegaly or hepatomegaly may cause discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen.
- Bone Pain or Tenderness: Bone pain, particularly in the long bones or back, can occur due to the infiltration of cancer cells into the bone marrow.
- SOB - aneamia or lung involvement
- neurological symptoms if CNS involved
Referral should be arranged urgently using a suspected cancer pathway for an appointment within 2 weeks for:
- People aged over 60 years with iron deficiency anaemia.
- Women aged over 55 years withpostmenopausal bleeding.
- People who have a faecal immunochemical testing result of at least 10 micrograms of haemoglobin per gram of faeces.
- Urgent referral should be considered for people aged under 50 years with rectal bleeding.
When should a referral to GE be arranged?
- all men and post MP women w IDA unless they have overt non-gastrointestinalbleeding.
- All people aged 50 years or overwithmarked anaemia, or a significant family history of colorectal carcinoma, even if coeliac disease is found.
- Premenopausal women if they areaged under 50 yearsand have colonic symptoms, a strong family history (two affected first-degree relatives or just one first-degree relative affected before the age of 50 years) of gastrointestinal cancer, persistent iron deficiency anaemia despite treatment, or if they do not menstruate (for example following hysterectomy).
Ix for normochromic normocytic anaemia?
- FBC
- Peripheral blood smear - morphological abnormalities in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This can help identify specific etiologies such as hemolysis, bone marrow disorders, or other underlying conditions.
Iron studies?
- Serum Iron: Measure serum iron levels to assess iron status.
- Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC): Evaluate TIBC to assess transferrin levels.
- Transferrin Saturation: Calculate transferrin saturation to assess iron utilization.
Additional tests for IDA?
- Serum Ferritin: Measure serum ferritin levels to assess iron stores.
- Renal Function Tests: Perform renal function tests, including serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), to assess kidney function.
- Liver Function Tests: Evaluate liver function with tests such as serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
- Inflammatory Markers: Measure inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to assess for underlying inflammation.
Ix for haemolytic anaemias?
- Reticulocyte Count: An elevated reticulocyte count indicates increased red blood cell production in response to hemolysis.
- Haptoglobin: Decreased levels of haptoglobin indicate hemolysis, as haptoglobin binds free hemoglobin in the bloodstream.
- Serum LDH: Elevated LDH levels are a marker of hemolysis, as LDH is released from damaged red blood cells.
Referral for haemolytic anaemia?
- Suspected or confirmed diagnosis of hemolytic anemia based on laboratory investigations and clinical assessment.
- Severe or life-threatening hemolytic anemia requiring urgent intervention or hospitalization.
- Hemolytic anemia refractory to initial treatment or associated with complications such as acute hemolysis, hemolytic crisis, or organ dysfunction.
- Presence of specific underlying conditions associated with hemolytic anemia that require specialized expertise for diagnosis and management, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
inherited haemolytic anaemias?
- metabolic abn - G6PD deficiency which protects E from oxidative stress
- haemaglobin abn - sickle cell, thalassemia
- membrane abn - hereditary spherocytosis - results in premature removal by splenic macrophages
autoimmune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
- ab against the RBC
- e.g. autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). It is characterised by either warm-reactive antibodies or cold haemagglutinins.
causes of non-immune mediated destruction?
- include mechanical distortion from abnormal surfaces (e.g. prosthetic heart valve),
- passing through abnormal intravascular fibrin strands (e.g. microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia),
- infections,
- drugs or an
- overactive spleen (e.g. hypersplenism).
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Paraesthesia
- Dyspnoea
- Gastrointestinal symptoms(e.g. nausea, dyspepsia)
- Weight loss
signs of haemolytic anaemia?
- Atrophic glossitis
- Pallor
- Fever
- Splenomegaly
- Evidence of underlying disease
signs of haemolysis?
- Jaundice
- Abdominal pain(e.g. gallstones)
- Dark urine(e.g. haemoglobinuria secondary to intravascular haemolysis)
haemolytic screen?
- FBC(inc. reticulocyte count)
- Blood film
- LDH
- LFTs(bilirubin)
- Serum haptoglobin
- Additional tests
which type of anaemia does haemolytic anemia cause?
normocytic w raised reticulocyte count
inc reticulocytes in haem anaemia?
- The normal percentage of reticulocytes in the peripheral blood is 1-2%.
- In the absence of bone marrow disease, an increase in RBC destruction leads to the release of EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce more erythrocytes, subsequently increasing the percentage or reticulocytes.
Typical erythrocyte morphologies associated with haemolysis may include:
- Spherocytes(e.g. hereditary spherocytosis)
- Schistocytes(e.g. microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia)
- Sickle cells(e.g. sickle cell disease)
Hereditary spherocytosis?
- most common inherited form of haemolysis
- usually transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern
- characterised by mutations that lead to defects within the RBC membrane resulting in cytoskeleton instability.
Hereditary spherocytosis is assoc w?
- associated with a low haemoglobin concentration, raised reticulocyte count and spherocytes seen on blood film,
- which are smaller and denser erythryocytes that have a sphere shape as opposed to biconcave shape
- treatment typically involves splenectomy
GDP6 deficiency?
- X linked disorder
- can lead to haemolysis in presence of oxidative stressors
- avoidance of fava beans, types of henna and numerous drugs
drugs that can trigger haemolysis in GDP-6 def?
ciprofloxacin, sulfonylureas(e.g.,gliclazide
* sulfasalazine.
alloantibodies?
- Alloantibodiesare antibodies produced by one individual that will react with antigens of another individual of the same species. May be seen in haemolytic transfusion reactions and haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Autoantibodies?
- Autoantibodies, which are generated against components of the individuals own tissue, may be seen in AIHA. AIHA is further divided depending on the type of autoantibody present being ‘warm’ or ‘cold’.
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
- ab reaction against erythrocytes at higher temps -> agglutination
- may be idiopathic, or assoc w immune dysfunction secondary to infection or malignancy
what can Warm AIHA be associated w?
- Warm AIHA may be associated with infections such as HIV and EBV, inflammatory disorders such as SLE, or malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Cold AIHA?
- assoc w reactipn at lower T <32
- AIHA may be idiopathic or associated with:
- **lymphoma,
- Mycoplasma pneumoniaeinfection a
- infectious mononucleosis.
Non-immune mediated HE?
- Mechanical trauma- due to heart and large blood vessel pathology (e.g. prostheses).
- Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia(e.g. HUS, TTP, DIC).
- Burns
- Infections
- Drugs & chemicals
- Hypersplenism
in which ppts should colonoscopy be avoided?
In patients with severe colitis, colonoscopy should be avoided due to the risk of perforation - a flexible sigmoidoscopy is preferred
mutation in hereditary non polyposis CRC
MSH2/MLH1 gene mutations are associated with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma
mutation in FAP?
APC
biliary colic vs cholesystitis vs cholangitis?
Biliary colic: RUQ pain
Cholecystitis: RUQ pain + Fever
Cholangitis: RUQ pain + Fever + Jaundice
which drug can cause cholestasis?
co-amoxiclav
PPIs can cause…
hyponatreamia
what is allo-immunisation?
- allo-immunisation refers to the development of antibodies against red blood cell antigens that can potentially harm the fetus during pregnancy.
- Prevention measures in the UK focus on identifying and managing at-risk women
Measures of preventing allo-immunisation?
- antenatal screening
- RhD immunoprophylaxis
- testing for other ab
antenatal screening?
- Blood samples are tested to determine the woman’s blood group (ABO and RhD), as well as the presence of any irregular antibodies (e.g., anti-D, anti-Kell).
RhD immunoprophylaxis?
- RhD-negative women who are not sensitized to the RhD antigen are offered RhD immunoprophylaxis (anti-D immunoglobulin) to prevent sensitization during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Anti-D immunoglobulin is typically administered at 28 weeks of gestation and within 72 hours after potentially sensitizing events such as antepartum hemorrhage, miscarriage, or childbirth.
allo-immunisation - testing for other ab?
- Women with a history of blood transfusions, previous pregnancies, or significant red cell alloantibodies are tested for other clinically significant antibodies.
- This helps identify additional risks and guide appropriate management during pregnancy.
acute complications of sickle cell?
- infections
- anaemia
- vaso-occlusive phenomena
- acute painful episodes
- acute chest syndrome
SC: infections?
- Patients are at increased risk of bacterial infections, particularly encapsulated bacteria such as Pneumococcal, Meningococcal and Haemophilus.
- This is due to development of hypo-/asplenism.
CF of infections - SC?
- Clinical features associated with infections are usually organ specific and may include fever, headache, cough, dysuria, abdominal pain and/orrash.
Viral infections w SC?
- Patients are also at risk of viral infections such as parvovirus and influenza.
- Features of coryzal symptoms with a blocked/runny nose, myalgia, arthralgia and/or fever may be present.
how is the infection risk w sickle cell managed?
- Prophylactic penicillin - lifelong
anaemia development with sickle cell?
- ppts usually have a chronic, compensated anemia due to hemolysis
- but symptoms can develop due to acute falls in hb
hyperhaemolysis?
- hyperhaemolysis - sudden exacerbation of haemolysis
- May be associated with acute vaso-occlusive crises, due to excess transfusions and development of alloimmunisation or or coexistence of G6PD deficiency.
splenic sequestration?
- splenic sequestration - life-threatening condition, usually in children.
- Acute fall on Hb due to pooling of red blood cells in the spleen.
- Presents with rapidly enlarging spleen, features of anaemia +/- hypovolaemic shock
3 major causes of an acute drop w sickle cell?
- splenic sequestration
- aplastic crisis
- hyperhaemolysis
aplastic crisis?
- aplastic crisis - transient arrest of erythropoiesis, usually induced by infection (e.g. parvovirus B19)
what are the vaso-occlusive phenomena?
- acute painful episode
- acute chest syndrome
acute painful episodes typically affect?
- typically affects the back, chest, abdomen, extremities and dactylitis - inflammation of a digit (i.e. fingers or toes) may be common in children.
- In severe cases, patients require admission to hospital for parental analgesia (e.g. subcutaneous morphine)
- can occur at the same time as acute chest
how are acute painful epiodes managed?
- analgesia within 30 mins of presentation - opiod + paracetamol and NSAIDs
acute chest syndrome is a life-threatening syndrome characterised by:
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Hypoxaemia
- Wheezing
- Cough
- Respiratory distress
Ix for acute chest?
- CXR: evidence of infiltration usually
Mx of acute chest?
- pain relief
- blood transfusion in the hypoxic patient
- Following an episode of acute chest syndrome the patient should be offered disease modifying therapy (eg hydroxycarbamide, blood transfusion).
splenomegaly and malignancy?
- splenomegaly - can be due to haematological malignancies like lymphoma or leukemia
- can be from metastatic cancer
lymphadenopathy and malignancy?
- lymphadenopathy - Enlarged lymph nodes may be indicative of lymphoma, leukemia, or metastatic cancer spreading via the lymphatic system.
anaemia and malignancy?
- anemia - can result from bone marrow infiltration by cancer cells, chronic inflammation, bleeding
what does MM FBC show?
- FBC typically shows normocytic normochromic anemia due to bone marrow infiltration and suppression of erythropoiesis.
- Leukocytosis or leukopenia may be present.
- Thrombocytopenia can occur due to bone marrow involvement or abnormal platelet function.
ALL FBC?
FBC often shows leukocytosis with lymphoblasts. Anemia and thrombocytopenia are common.
When should myeloma be suspected?
- unex bone pain
- fatigue
- symptoms of hypercalcaemia
- weight loss
- symptoms of cord compression
- symptoms of hyperviscosity
- recurrent infections
symptoms of hypercalcaemia?
- bone pain
- abdo pain
- constipation
- confusion
- polyuria
symptoms of cord compression?
- back pain
- new leg weakness
- bladder/bowel dysfunction
symptoms of hyperviscosity?
headache, blurred vision, shortness of breath, mucosal bleeding
Dx of MM - tests?
- monoclonal ab detection
- bone marrow infiltration - aspiration
- myeloma related organ damage
- staging
MM: ab detection?
protein electrophoresis & immunoglobulins, SFLCs +/- urine electrophoresis for Bence-Jones protein
checking for myeloma related organ damage?
FBC, U&Es, bone profile, imaging (whole body MRI or low-dose whole body CT if MRI not suitable). Skeletal survey (x-rays) only used if CT/MRI not possible
staging for confirmed myeloma?
beta-2 microglobulin, albumin