Chapter 11: Disorders of WBC and Lymphoid Tissues Flashcards
What is leukopenia?
abnormally low number of WBC in the blood
What is granulocytopenia?
abnormally low concentration of granulocytes in the blood
What is aplastic anemia?
deficiency in bone marrow maturation of all cell types from stem cells
What is neutropenia?
Low number of neutrophils
What is agranulocytosis?
it is a state of virtually no neutrophils
techinically a type of neutropenia
List 4 causes of neutropenia.
1) acquired (drug, infection related)
2) congenital
3) neoplasms
4) autoimmune
Describe what infectious mononucleosis is.
a self-limiting lymphoproliferative disorder that lasts 2-3 weeks
What virus causes infectious mononucleosis?
the Epstein-barr virus
What age groups is infectious mononucleosis more common in?
adolescents and young adults
Describe the pathogenesis of infectious mononucleosis.
the virus penetrates the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and salivary lymphocytes into the lymphoid tissue.
It then binds to B cells and either kill it or incorporate itself into its genome.
If incorporated, circulates and secretes a hetorophil (antibody that reacts with antigens from other species) which can be traced to diagnose.
Once infection is over, some b-cells remain in the mouth and occasionally shed into saliva to transmit. Inc shedding when immune system is suppressed
What type of cells are most important in regulating mono?
T cells and natural killer cells
Describe the common manifestations of mono.
1) begins insidiously (4-8 wk incubation)
2) initial malaise, anorexia, and chills
3) pharyngitis, fever, lymphedema
4) hepatitis (liver inflammation) and spenomegaly are common
5) rarely (more in adult) cranial nerve palsies (disruption of nerve function)
What are some complications that can occur as a result of mono?
ENCEPHALITIS: inflammation of the brain
MENINGITIS: infection of the brain
GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME: immune system attacks peripheral nervous system
Describe leukemia.
malignant neoplasms of cells originally derived from hematopoietic precursor cells.
replaces bone marrow and results in highly immature and large numbers of WBC
List some causes of leukemia.
Largely unknown, but….
1) radiation exposure
2) benzene
3) antitumour drugs
4) post chemotherapy
5) genetic predisposition
What are 2 conditions that give you a genetic predisposition for leukemia?
Down syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
How is mono treated?
mainly symptomatic treatment.
bed rest
Tylenol for soar throat, headaches and fever
How is leukemia classified?
either acute or chronic
and either myelocytic (myeloid stem line) or lymphocytic (lymphoid stem line)
Describe the manifestations and characteristics of acute leukemia.
1) sudden onset
2) low grade fever, night sweats, weight loss
3) bone pain/tenderness
4) lymphadenopathy (swollen or enlarged lymph nodes)
5) symptoms of depressed bone marrow: WBC=infections, RBC=fatigue, thrombocytopenia=bleeding/bruisingng
6) leukostasis (inc number of circulating leukemic blast cells)
7) hyperuricemia (uric acid accumulation d/t cell breakdown
what type of leukemia accounts for 1/3 of all leukemias?
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
What is the biggest difference between chronic and acute leukemia?
Chronic is a proliferation of more fully differentiated cells than acute is.
Chronic is much more common in older adults
What happens to the other stem cell line when there is a leukemia of the other?
its production is suppressed by the overproduction of the other
What chromosome is affected in chronic myelogenous leukemia?
the Philadelphia Chromosome
What are the three phases of chronic myelogenous leukemia?
CHRONIC
SHORT ACCELERATED
TERMINAL
