Blood/Cancer Flashcards
What is anemia? What are the 3 general causes for anemia? What vitamins and minerals can affect RBC production?
Lower-than normalhemoglobin/hematocrit levels and fewer-than-normal circulating erythrocytes
Hypo-proliferative: Defective RBC production, bone marrow suppression from disease or chemotherapy
Hemolytic: RBC destruction in the circulation such as sickle cell disease
Bleeding/blood loss: GI blood loss, hemorrhage from trauma, heavy menstruation
iron, folate, Vit. B12 and protein
What are the manifestations of anemia? What are the characteristics of the tongue with megaloblastic anemia? And with iron deficiency anemia?
Fatigue and weakness
Dizziness or syncope upon standing/exertion
Paresthesia (Vit. B12 deficiency)
Pallor
Tachycardia
Dyspnea on exertion
Hypotension (if bleeding)
Jaundice if from hemolysis
Sensitivity to cold
Brittle, ridged, concave (spoon-shaped) nails
Angular cheilosis of lips
Pica
Tongue changes
Beefy red, sore = megaloblastic anemia
Smooth, red = iron deficiency anemia
What does the RBC carry? What is the function of hemoglobin? What does the hematocrit indicate?
RBC carries hemoglobin molecules
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Transports O₂ to all tissues
Index of oxygen-carrying capacity of blood
Hematocrit (Hct)
Percentage of RBCs in relation to total blood volume
What is the mean corpuscular volume (MCV)? Why is it important? When does normocytic RBCs present? When does microcytic RBCs present? Macrocytic?
size of RBC
helps determine cause of anemia
(normal size) renal disease and anemias cause by chronic disease
(small) iron deficiency
(large) B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency and alcoholism
What is mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)? How is it quantified?
amount of hemoglobin per RBC
normochromic: normal amount
hypochromic: decreased amount
How is iron-related anemia diagnosed? What does a sickle cell test evaluate? When is a bone marrow aspiration indicated? In what location is it commonly performed?
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): Indirect measure of transferrin
Ferritin: Indicates total iron stores in the body
Low levels indicates iron deficiency anemia
Elevated levels may indicate hemochromatosis
Most accurate test to evaluate iron stores in body
Evaluates sickling of RBCs
Used to diagnose any bone marrow diseases such as aplastic anemia, leukemia
posterior pelvic bone (iliac crest)
What is the most common type of anemia that occurs? What are 7 causes?
iron deficiency
inadequate intake of dietary iron
blood loss (GI bleed most common)
menorrhagia
pregnancy
ETOH abuse
IBD
NSAID and aspirin use
When taking supplemental iron enterally, what 2 things can aid in absorption? What are dietary sources of iron?
increase intake of Vit C
Do not take with food. Food decreases absorption
meat
seafood
beans
green leafy veggies
dried fruits (raisins, prunes, apricots, etc)
What is aplastic anemia? What cell lines are affected? Result? S/S? How is it treated?
rare anemia caused by damage to bone marrow stem cells
all three: RBC, WBC, platelet
pancytopenia: anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia
may not be noticeable at first
infections
fatigue
purpura or petechiae
retinal hemorrhages
splenomegaly
hematopoietic stem cel transplant
immunosuppressive therapy
supportive therapies such as transfusions
what is vitB12 deficiency related to? S/S? B12 causes what 2 dysfunctions? Other than inadequate intake, what can cause B12 deficiency?
absence of intrinsic factor causing pernicious anemia
smooth, sore, red tongue
extreme pallor
paresthesia
loss of balance and proprioception
confusion
anemia and neurological symptoms
atrophic gastritis
gastrectomy
disease of the distal ilium such as Crohn’s
How is megaloblastic anemia managed?
If folate deficiency: increase folate to 1 mg/day
If B12: supplement or months IM or SQ injection, lifelong supplementation
What is a hemolytic anemia? What is its nature? When do RBCs typically sickle? What disfunction does sickled RBCs cause?
sickle cell disease
autosomal recessive
affects African descent
events of illness or hypoxemia
occlusive/ischemia
hemolysis (breakdown of abnormal RBCs in capillaries and spleen)
severe pain d/t ischemia in various sites or organs
what is acute chest syndrome related to sickle cell crisis? Management?
emergency caused by ischemia in the lungs and heart
O2
hydration
opioids
possible antibiotics is bacterial infection present
What are clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease/vaso-occlusive crisis? What can happen with the spleen and gallbladder d/t sickle cell?
Sickled cells hemolyze rapidly and have a shortened lifespan
Anemia is usually present
Hgb values 5 -11 g/dL
Tachycardia
Cardiomegaly and heart failure
Arrhythmias
Jaundice
All tissues and organs can be affected by thrombosis in the microcirculation
Tissue hypoxia
Tissue damage
Tissue necrosis
gallstones from excessive bilirubin from RBC breakdown
splenomegaly from overwork removing RBCs
What is the medical management of sickle cell disease?
aggressive O2, pain control and hydration
hematopoietic stem cell transplant
hydroxyurea: chemo drug increases fetal hemoglobin and decreases the formation of sickled cells
transfusions
What are typical pain control methods for sickle cell?
aspirin
NSAIDs
opioids
What is polycythemia vera? What does the hematocrit indicate? S/S? Risk? Treatment?
blood cancer that causes bone marrow to make too many red blood cells.
Hct may be > 60%, resulting ina thickened blood
Increased blood viscosity (high RBCs)
Ruddycomplexion
Splenomegaly
Hypertension
Pruritis (high bilirubin)
Erythromelalgia (burning in hands/feet;reddish or bluish skin)
At risk for thrombosis complications and bleeding complications
phlebotomy to reduce RBC count
increase fluid
aspirin
myelosuppressive agents
interferon therapy
managment of symptoms such as pruritis
How are cancers of the blood classified? What are the 3 classifications f hematopoietic cancers?
Classified by the specific blood cells involved
Leukemia: Neoplastic proliferation of a certain type of WBC line
Granulocytes (acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia)
Lymphocytes (acute lymphocytic leukemia,chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
Lymphoma: Neoplasms of the lymphoid tissue (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin)
Multiple myeloma: Malignancy of the plasma cells (B-cell line)
What is leukemia? What does the overgrowth then influence? What then occurs? What is the risk? How is leukemia classified? Which is more aggressive? How is it further differentiated?
Hematopoietic malignancy with unregulated proliferation of leukocytes
Overgrowth prevents growth of other blood components (RBCs and platelets)
Anemia and thrombocytopenia
Lack of mature leukocytes leads to immunosuppression
Infection is the leading cause of death
Divided into acute and chronic leukemia.
Acute leukemia is more aggressive
Further classified by the type of WBC
Lymphoid/lymphocytic (ALL, CLL)
Myeloid (AML, CML)
What is the nature of chronic myeloid leukemia? Goal of treatment?
Mutation in myeloid stem cell
Unregulated proliferation of myeloid white blood cells
Least common type of leukemia
Goal of treatment is to control the disease with chemotherapy:
Obtaining remission or keeping the client in the chronic phase as long as possible, can often live for many years since chronic
CML is not considered curable in older adults but very treatable with chemotherapy
What is the nature of acute lymphocytic leukemia? Who is at risk, what age? Goal of treatment?
Uncontrolled proliferation of immature cells (lymphoblasts) from lymphoid stem cell
B-lymphocyte affected in 75% of cases
75% - 80% of cases found in children
Most common childhood leukemia
Boys affected more than girls
Peak incidence is 4 years of age
Respond very well to chemotherapy
Prognosis is very good for children
What are menifectationso f acute lymphocytic leukemia in children? What do the leukemic cells commonly infiltrate causing what kind of symptoms? What will lab levels reflect?
bleeding gums, bruising
fatigue
Often found incidentally with routine lab studies or physical exam
other organs
CNS often affected
Cranial nerve palsies
Headaches
Vomiting
Hepatomegaly
Splenomegaly
Bone pain
Elevated WBC cells (lymphocytes),low RBCs and platelets
What is the treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia in children?
chemo
HSCT
tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Who is at risk for chronic lymphotcytic leukemia? Who is it less common in? S/S? Clinical manifestations?
older individuals
family disposition
exposure to agent orange
indigenous people
asian descent
bone pain
bleeding
fever
night sweats
weight loss
May be asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally
Lymphocytosis is always present
Lymphadenopathy
Splenomegaly
B symptoms (fever, weight loss, night sweats)
Impaired T-cell function causing life-threatening infection and
Increased susceptibility to second malignancies