Blood Disease Definitions

Question 1

Anemia Due to Blood Loss

Answer 1

Acute: GI bleed; Injury; Surgery 
Chronic: Bladder tumors
Cancer or polyps in GI tract
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Kidney tumors
Ulcers in the stomach or small intestine

Question 2

Microcytic Anemia

Answer 2

Microcytic anemias result from deficient or defective heme or globin synthesis. Microcytic anemias include iron deficiency anemias, iron-transport deficiency anemias, iron-utilization anemias (including some sideroblastic anemias and lead poisoning), and thalassemias (which also cause hemolysis).

Question 3

Normochromic-normocytic Anemia

Answer 3

Normocytic anemias are characterized by a normal RBC distribution width (RDW) and normochromic indices. The two most common causes are hypoproliferation due to a deficiency of or inadequate response to erythropoietin (EPO) and anemia of chronic disease. (thyroid disease, kidney disease)

Question 4

Macrocytic Anemia

Answer 4

Macrocytic anemias can be caused by impaired DNA synthesis leading to megaloblastosis, as occurs with deficiencies of vitamin B12 or folate (see Megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemias). Other causes include chronic alcohol intake (independent of vitamin deficiency), liver disease, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and hemolysis. Some patients with hypothyroidism have macrocytic RBC indices, including some without anemia.

Question 5

Anemia S/S

Answer 5

Symptoms include:
● Tiredness. ● Lightheadedness. ●
coexisting disease, e.g. angina.
Signs include:
● Mucous membrane pallor. ● murmurs. ● Ankle oedema. ●Tachypnoea. ● Raised JVP. ● Postural hypotension. ●tachycardia

Question 6

Leucopenia

Answer 6

low WBC count

Question 7

Leucocytosis

Answer 7

high WBC count

Question 8

Neutrophilia Causes

Answer 8

High Neutrophil Count: Infection. ● Trauma. ● Myocardial infarction (MI). ●Inflammation ● Malignancy. ● Myeloproliferative disorders.

Question 9

Lymphocytosis

Answer 9

High Lymph count; Most commonly seen in viral infections

Question 10

Eosinophilia

Answer 10

High Eosinophil Count; Allergy ( asthma, drug reactions etc.), Parasitic Infections; Inflammatory Disease; Malignancy.

Question 11

Lymphadenopathy

Answer 11

Enlarged Lymph Nodes

Question 12

Splenomegaly

Answer 12

Enlarged Spleen

Question 13

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 13

Low Platelet Count

Question 14

Thrombocytosis

Answer 14

High Platelet Count

Question 15

Megaloblastic anaemia

Answer 15

This results from deficiency of vitamin B12

or folic acid, both of which are required for DNA synthesis.

Question 16

Pernicious anaemia

Answer 16

This is an autoimmune disorder characterised by atrophy of the gastric mucosa. Loss of the parietal cells causes intrinsic factor deficiency, leading to vitamin B12
malabsorption.

Question 17

Haemolytic anaemia

Answer 17

When destruction exceeds production, haemolytic anaemia results

Question 18

Sickle-cell anaemia

Answer 18

When HbS is deoxygenated, the Hb molecules polymerise and the red cell membrane becomes distorted, producing characteristic sickle-shaped cells

Question 19

thalassaemias

Answer 19

thalassaemias are a group of inherited disorders of Hb production in which there is impaired synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains. The resultant imbalance in the ratio of alpha to beta chains leads to precipitation of the excess chains, causing membrane damage and reduced red cell survival.

Question 20

Leukemias

Answer 20

Leukaemias are malignant disorders of haematopoietic stem cells, associated with increased numbers of white cells in the bone marrow and/or peripheral blood

Question 21

Types of Leukemias

Answer 21

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).(most common in children) ●
(AML). ● Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). ● leukaemia (CML)

Question 22

Acute Leukemias

Answer 22

Acute leukaemias occur at all ages, but ALL has a peak incidence in children aged 1–5 yrs. AML occurs mainly over the age of 50

Question 23

Most Common Type of Leukemia

Answer 23

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common variety of leukaemia, typically presenting between the ages of 65 and 70 yrs.

Question 24

Cytopenia

Answer 24

Cytopenia is a reduction in the number of mature blood cells.

Question 25

Hodgkin lymphomas

Answer 25

Hodgkin lymphoma is a localized or disseminated malignant proliferation of cells of the lymphoreticular system, primarily involving lymph node tissue, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. (B-Cell)

Question 26

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL)

Answer 26

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of disorders involving malignant monoclonal proliferation of lymphoid cells in lymphoreticular sites, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, the spleen, the liver, and the GI tract. (B-Cell and T-Cell origin)

Question 27

Multiple myeloma

Answer 27

This is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells and has a peak incidence between the ages of 60 and 70 yrs

Question 28

aplastic anaemia

Answer 28

This is a rare disorder in Europe and North America. It is characterised by failure of the pluripotent stem cells, resulting in hypoplasia of the bone marrow with pancytopenia

Question 29

erythropoiesis

Answer 29

production of RBCs