CML and Myeloproliferative Disorders Flashcards
What is polycythaemia?
Raised Hb conc. + Haematocrit %
What are causes of polycythaemia?
Relative: Lack of plasma = Non-malignant (Pseudo)
True: Excess erythrocytes
Primary: Myeloproliferative neoplasm
Secondary: Non-malignant
What are the classes of myeloproliferative neoplasms? Give examples of each
Ph (Philadelphia Chr) -ve:
- Polycythaemia vera (PV) (erythroid)
- Essential Thrombocythaemia (ET) (megakaryocytic)
- Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF)
Ph +ve:
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
What are dilution studies used for?
To differentiate between true + relative polycythaemia
Red Cell Mass: 51 Cr labelled RBC
Plasma Vol: 131 I labelled albumin
What are 3 causes of relative/pseudo-polycythaemia?
Alcohol
Obesity
Diuretics
What happens to EPO in primary and secondary true polycythaemia?
Primary: Reduced
Secondary: Elevated
What are 4 appropriate causes of elevated EPO?
High altitude
Hypoxic lung disease
Cyanotic heart disease
High affinity haemoglobin
What is the mechanism behind appropriate raise in EPO?
Low O2 tension detected by kidneys
Stimulates raise in EPO
Increases Hb production
How do lung, heart and high affinity haemoglobin cause appropriate increase in EPO?
Hypoxic lung disease: Less gas exchange, less O2 reaches kidneys
Cyanotic heart: Sending deoxygenated blood to kidneys
High affinity Hb e.g. Sickling thalassemia- fail to release O2 from Hb at lower O2 tensions, starve tissue of O2
What are 3 inappropriate causes of elevated EPO?
Renal disease (cysts, tumours, inflammation)
Uterine myoma
Other tumours (liver, lung)
What are examples of lymphoid haematological malignancies?
Precursor cell malignancy: ALL (B + T)
Mature cell malignancy: CLL, Multiple myeloma, Lymphoma (Hodgkin + Non Hodgkin)
What are 3 types of myeloid haematological malignancies?
Acute myeloid leukaemia (blasts >20%)
Myelodysplasia (blasts 5-19%)
Myeloproliferative disorders: ET, PV, PMF, CML
Which 3 processes in blood cancers are disrupted by mutation?
Cellular proliferation (type 1)
Impair/ block cellular differentiation (type 2)
Prolong cell survival (anti-apoptosis)
What is the normal function of tyrosine kinases?
Transmit cell growth signals from surface receptors to nucleus.
Activated by transferring phosphate groups to self + downstream proteins.
Normally held tightly in inactive state.
Promote cell growth, do not block maturation.
What happens when mutations cause activation of tyrosine kinase?
Expansion increase in mature/ end cells
Red cells: Polycythaemia
Platelets: Essential thrombocythaemia
Granulocytes: Chronic myeloid leukaemia
What occurs when EPO receptor binds erythropoietin?
Changes configuration of TK receptor
Phosphorylates JANUS Kinase 2 - ACTIVE
Able to pass phosphate groups to downstream signalling molecules which take the signal from the bound receptor to the nucleus to drive proliferation
Which genes are associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms?
JAK2 (100% of PV, 60% of ET + PMF)
Calreticulin
MPL
How is the diagnosis of myeloproliferative disorder (Ph negative) made?
Clinical features: Sx + Splenomegaly
FBC +/- BM biopsy
Erythropoietin level (EPO)
Mutation testing: Phenotype linked to acquired mutation
What is the epidemiology of polycythaemia vera?
Annually: 2-3/100,000
M > F = 1.2 : 1
Mean age dx: 60y
5% < 40y
How does PV present clinically? How is it diagnosed?
Incidental dx routine FBC (median Hb 184g/l, Hct 0.55).
Sx of increased hyper viscosity
Sx due to increased histamine release
Test for JAK2 V617F mutation
List 6 symptoms caused by blood hyper viscosity in PV
Headaches
Light-headedness
Stroke
Visual disturbances
Fatigue
Dyspnoea