Diagnostics Flashcards
Causes of haemolysis
Immune mediated destruction (primary vs associative due to haemotropic mycoplasma or protozoal disease)
Toxin induced injury (increased risk in cats due to reduced amount of intrinsic antioxidant)
Fragmentation (abnormal endothelial disease, DIC, neoplasia, vasculitis, myelofibrosis)
Membrane defects (PVK and PFK deficiencies - alter membrane integrity due to lack of ATP)
Hypophosphataemia (seen in cats with hepatic lipidosis)
Oxidant injury (onion tox,
Defective Hgb synthesis (Fe deficiency)
Haemotropic infections that can cause haemolytic anaemia
Mycoplasma felis
(M. haemominutium, M turicensis)
M haemocanis (rarely)
Leptospirosis
Anaplasma phagocytophilium (platys rarely causes RBC issues)
Babesia vogeli (mild) or gibsoni
Cytauxzoon sp (exotic)
FeLV (rare)
Microcytic, normo/hypochromic anaemia DDx
Iron deficiency - may or may not be regenerative)
PSS
nrIMHA
Chronic GI blood loss, chronic urinary blood loss
Expected indices for iron deficiency
Serum Fe = decreased
TIBC (transferrin level) = normal
% saturation = decreased
Can also assess BM stores in dogs (not cats) –> reduced haemosiderin in macrophages in iron deficient states.
Low Fe
Low TIBC
normal % saturation
+/- Normocytic/microcytic non-regenerative anaemia
This pattern is typical of inflammation of >24-48 hours duration. Both iron (inflammatory cytokines, hepcidin) and TIBC (negative acute phase protein) decrease, resulting in a normal % saturation.
Causes of hyperglycemia
Insulin resistance
Increased Diabetogenic hormones
Stress
Phaeochromocytoma
HAC
Hypersomatotropism
Dioestrus/Ovarian remnant
HyperTH
Decreased Insulin
Pancreatic immune mediated damage
Glucose toxicity
Type I diabetes
Spurious - delayed measurement, haemolysis, EDTA/Lith hep tubes.
Sepsis
Stress
Parenteral IVF or nutrition
Drugs: thiazide diuretics, B-agonists
Causes of hypoglycemia
Decreased Production
Neonates - low stores of glycogen
Hepatobiliary disease (PSS, liver failure (acute or end stage chronic), neoplasia)
Toxins: ethylene glycol, ethanol
Sepsis ( reduced hepatic production - impaired oxidative metabolism, hypoxic injury, increased anaerobic glycolysis)
Glycogen storage disease - enzyme deficiency in glycogenolysis (hypogly, hepatomegaly with vacuolation, elevated liver enzymes)
Increased Utilisation
Sepsis (insulin like substances, IL1, cytokine enhances transport of glucose into cells)
Insulinoma, or iatrogenic insulin
Paraneoplastic - HCC, leiyomyosarcoma, hepatic mets
(impaired hepatic gluconeogenesis/glycogenolysis, excess glucose utilisation, IGF 2, inhibition of counter-reg hormones)
Toxins: xylitol, ethanol, ethylene glycol
Parasitic infection: Babesia (consume glucose and deplete hepatic stores)
Primary renal glycosuria (dried chicken jerky)
Polycythemia (artefactual due to increased RBC in sample)
Deficiency in insulin antagonists (diabetogenic hormones)
Hypoadrenocorticism
Glucagon deficiency - severe pancreatitis
Hypopituitarism (low ACTH and GH rare)
Causes of elevated Albumin
Dehydration
Hormonal: Hypersomatotropism; Insulinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Causes of decreased albumin
Reduced synthesis: liver disease, starvation, malnutrition
Hormonal hypoTH, DM, hypoA, Glucagonoma;
Inflammation - IL1 and IL6
Increased Loss:
PLE, PLN
Cutaneous lesions, centesis of effusions
3rd space loss from effusion
Causes of elevated TG/Cholesterol
Causes of Secondary Hyperlipidaemia - cause mild to moderate increases in TG and/or cholesterol
High fat diet
Endocrine:hypoTH, HAC, DM (cats, mainly TG)
Pancreatitis
Obesity (cats as well)
Protein losing nephropathy
Cholestasis
Hepatic insufficiency
Drugs: phenobarbitone, glucocorticoids, Oestrogen
Primary Hyperlipidemia:
Min Schnau; Beagle, Doberman, Shetland Sheepdog
Causes of low cholesterol
PLE
IBD
Intestinal Lymphoma
Hepatic failure
Histiocytic sarcoma
Causes of hyperkalaemia
Reduced renal excretion = hypoA, renal failure, LUT obstruction, bladder rupture, Whipworm, salmonellosis
Hypovolaemia reducing GFR and tubular flow (GI disease, body cavity effusions)
Repeated pleural effusion drainage
Translocation from ICF to ECF
Metabolic Acidosis
Insulin deficiency (have intracellular deficit)
Tissue injury - reperfusion, acute tumour lysis
Total parenteral nutrition
Artefact: haemolysis, EDTA, thrombocytosis, delayed serum removal;
Drugs: ACEi, B-blockers, ARBs → all reduce aldosterone effects
Causes of hypokalaemia
Increased renal excretion - affected by aldosterone, tubular flow and lumen electronegativity.
CKD or Distal renal tubular acidosis
Hyperaldosteronism (or HAC)
Post-obstructive diuresis, diuretic drugs, DKA diuresis
→ osmotic diuresis with anion like ketones drags K+ out
HyperTH polyuria
Diet induced hypokalaemic nephropathy in cats
Drugs: thiazide or loop diuretics,
Increased GI loss: Gastric vomiting; SI diarrhoea
Translocation from ECF → ICF: Alkalosis
Hyperinsulinism or after glucose containing fluid
Decreased intake: Iatrogenic fluids; Anorexia; Dietary deficiency
ECG findings of hyperkalaemia - why
Initial increase in excitability due to less negative RMP
But with this change there are less voltage gated Na channels present to open –> slower depolarisation when impulse commenced in SA node, and slower impulse conduction.
Shortened QT
T tenting (rapid repol
as K moves in quickly)
Widening of the QRS due to conduction delay
Flattening and eventual loss of P waves
Sine waves develop in severe disease
How does Ca alleviate hyperkalaemic arrhythmogenic effects
antagonises the effects of K+ on the RMP, stabilising the RMP
Does not alter the amount of K+ present so additional treatment is needed
How does hypokalaemia affect cardiac rhythm/ECG and why
Enhances the ‘funny currents’ in the SA nodal cells –> faster phase 4 depolarisation
See effects most in the purkinjie fibres –> increasing risk of ectopic foci developing
The hypokalaemia slows repolarisation through inhibition of the K+ efflux channels as well resulting in risk of re-entrant arrhythmia
Flattened T wave and development of U wave (due to delayed repolarisation)
Prolonged QU interval
How does hypokalaemia affect motor neuron conduction
Causes hyperpolarisation –> more negative RMP
–> need greater stimulus to generate AP
–> weakness
Causes of Hypernatraemia
Free water deficit –> hyperosmolality of the ECF. Approach is through assessment of volume status
- Hypovolaemia (isotonic water loss generally have the greatest vol depletion)
- Renal: appropriate (osmotic or drug induced diuresis); inappropriate (CKD, nonoliguric AKI, post-obstructive diuresis)
- Extra-renal: GI (V, D, obstruction); 3rd space (pancreatitis, pleural eff); Cutaneous - Normovolaemia = pure water deficit
- insensible loss (fever, tachypnoea)
Hypodypsia (neurological dz, thirst centre defect, ADH defect)
- CDI/NDI - ADH dysfunction
Lack of water access - Hypervolemia (solute gain):
- Salt poison
- Hypertonic fluids
- Hyperaldosteronism
- HAC
Causes of hyponatraemia
Generally caused by excess water –> result of non-osmotic ADH release
Most are LOW OSMOLALITY
1. Hypervolemic: renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, CHF, liver failure
(all cause perception of reduced ECV thus nonosmotic ADH release and water retention despite low osmolality) Renal failure may also be unable to excrete sufficient water.
Also water intoxication
- Normovolaemia: SIADH (paraneoplastic, drugs); hypothyroidism (myxoedema), Hypotonic fluids, Psychogenic polydipsia, reset osmostat
(Low Na, high Urine osmolality and high Ur Na) - Hypovolaemia:
Addison’s, Nephropathy (salt losing); GI loss, 3rd space loss; excessive diuretic use
NORMAL OSMOLaLITY - pseudo/spurious due to increased protein or lipid (measured osmolality will be normal)
HIGH OSMOLALITY - hyperglycemia, mannitol or severe azotaemia
Causes of hyperchloraemia
Corrected for Na = [Cl] x 146 / [Na]
Hyperchloraemia is associated with tendency toward acidosis
Iatrogenic = fluids, KBr, spironolactone
Concurrent HCO3 deficit = renal Cl retention and HCO3 excretion → chronic alkalosis or renal tubular acidosis
or GI loss of HCO3
DKA - ketones excreted in place of Cl
HypoA - Na loss > Cl loss
Hypoalbuminemia
Diarrhoea - loss of Na > Cl