General hematology Flashcards
What factors are associated with the development of hospital-acquired anemia?
Cumulative phlebotomy >3% total blood volume
Surgery (OR 10)
Deficiencies in what ATP generation pathway lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs and cat? Why?
Anaerobic glycolysis - RBCs lack a mitochondria and rely on anaerobic glycolysis to produce ATP
What is the role of pyruvate kinase in anaerobic glycolysis?
Catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, thus generating one ATP molecule
How is pyruvate kinase deficiency inherited?
Autosomal recessive - heterozygous dogs show no clinical signs, homozygous affected
Describe the clinical presentation in dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Chronic, low grade hemolysis rather an an acute presentation
- Icterus is rare, but will present with signs of anemia
Describe the anemia present in dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Moderate to severe anemia (median HCT 21%)
- Regenerative (high retic counts - average 500,000 to 1,500,000)
- Macrocytic, hypochromic
Why do dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency have normal to increased PK activity on testing?
The erythrocytes of affected dogs lack the normal, adult R isozyme of PK but have persistence of the M2 isoform normally found in fetal tissue and precursor cells - causes the total RBC PK activity to seem normal
M2 form NOT found in cats - PK activity will be decreased
Erythrocytes in dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency have increased concentrations of what molecule?
2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG)
What is the function of 2,3-DPG?
Binds to deoxygemoglobin and facilitates oxygen release from hemoglobin
What is the consequence of increased 2,3-DPG in dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency?
Lower blood oxygen affinity compared to normal dogs - promotes oxygen delivery to the tissues and helps compensate for anemia (decreases clinical signs)
What other organs are affected by pyruvate kinase deficiency?
Liver - hemosiderosis and fibrosis develop due to progressive iron overload
Bone - myelofirbosis and osteosclerosis also likely due to damage from iron overload or chronic EPO stimulation
What is the expected lifespan of dogs with pyruvate kinase deficiency?
1-5 years, typically die of bone marrow or liver failure
What is the role of phosphofructokinase in glycolysis?
Converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-diphosphate
The PFK isoform found in RBCs is found in what other tissue?
Skeletal muscle (M type PFK)
How is PFK deficiency inherited and what breeds are affected?
Autosomal recessive
Usually spaniels (English Springer, Cocker Spaniels, German Spaniels)
What is the 2,3-DPG concentration in dogs with PFK deficiency?
Low - 2,3-DPG is formed after the PFK reaction
What is the consequence of decreased 2,3-DPG in dogs with PFK deficiency?
Increased oxygen affinity for hemoglobin leads to tissue hypoxia => erythropoiesis and reticulocytosis, even if anemia isn’t present
How do dogs with PFK deficiency present?
- Persistent, low grade, compensated anemia with sporadic episodes of intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria, especially with exercise
- Hyperbilirubinemia (always in males, sometimes in females)
What are the clinical signs of an acute hemolytic crisis from PFK deficiency?
Lethargy, weakness, pale or icteric MM, fever
What other clinicopathologic abnormalities may be seen in dogs with PFK deficiency?
Elevated bilirubin, iron, ferritin, ALP, and CK (twice healthy dogs)
Why does a hemolytic crisis occur in dogs with PFK deficiency?
Secondary to hyperventilation-induced alkalemia - due to a lack of 2,3-DPG (the major anion in RBCs), the RBCs are very alkaline-fragile
What is the prognosis of dogs with PFK deficiency?
Can have normal lifespans - avoid strenuous exercise, excitement or high temps that cause hyperventilation and crisis
What genetic mutation can cause methemoglobinemia in cats and dogs?
Cytochrome B5 reductase
What causes methemoglobinemia?
Hemoglobin with a ferric iron (Fe3+) instead of ferrous iron (Fe2+) - ferric iron cannot carry oxygen
Cyanosis is noted when the methemoglobin fraction of the blood is greater than what percent? What percent is fatal?
Cyanosis: >15%
Fatal: >70%
What is the methemoglobin spot test?
Dark blood is exposed to air - with methemoglobin, it does not turn red (where it will with other causes of cyanosis)
In the cat, what causes oxygen release from hemoglobin?
Chloride - not 2,3-DPG like in the dog
What are the most common presenting signs in cats with primary erythrocytosis?
Seizures, mentation changes
In cats with lymphocytosis, expansion of B cell and heterogenous phenotypes were more consistent with what diagnosis and presentation?
- Non-neoplastic disease
- Polyclonal antigen receptors
- Younger age
- Lower lymphocyte counts
- Prolonged survival
In cats with lymphocytosis, what were the most common neoplastic lymphocytes on flow cytometry?
CD4+
In cats with lymphocytosis of neoplastic origin, what was the survival of cats with CD4+ vs CD8+ vs double negative lymphocytosis?
CD4+ = prolonged survival 750 days
Double negative = 271 days
CD8+ = 27 days
What is the typical presentation of dogs with sterile, steroid responsive lymphadenopathy?
Young (3 years), female over-represented
Pyrexia, lethargy, and anorexia
How rapidly did dogs with sterile, steroid responsive lymphadenopathy improve with prednisone?
Rapidly - 12 to 48 hours in 96%
What breed is predisposed to idiopathic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis?
English Springer Spaniel
Aspiration of splenic nodules revealed clinically important results (neoplasia or suppurative inflammation) in what percent of cases?
20%
What ultrasonographic findings were associated with clinically important cytologic findings on splenic ultrasound?
Splenic nodules 1-2cm in diameter, peritoneal fluid, >1 targetoid nodule
NOT associated: echogenicity, margins
What dog breed is more likely to be diagnosed with neoplasia when splenomegaly is observed (vs benign splenic changes)?
Wheatens
Is hemoperitoneum a predictor of splenic malignancy in small breed dogs?
No
Name 3 reasons to perform bone marrow sampling
- Unexplained hemic abnormalities on CBC (cytopenias, elevations in cell numbers, atypical morphology)
- Searching for occult disease/neoplasia (fever of unknown origin, hyperproteinemia, hypercalcemia)
- Cancer staging
What percent of dogs/cats develop complications from bone marrow sampling and what are the most common complications?
14% = pain most common, hematomas can rarely occur
When evaluating bone marrow, how many megakaryocytes should be present in a spicule?
2-7
When evaluating bone marrow, what percent of lymphocytes is normal?
<10% of nucleated cells
What is a normal M:E ratio in dog and cat bone marrow?
Dog: 0.9-1.8 : 1
Cats: 1.2-2.1 : 1
Name 2 causes of a decreased M:E ratio
- Increased erythroid production without concurrent inflammation: hemolytic anemia
- Decreased myeloid production: peripheral consumption of myeloid cells => depletion of maturation and storage pool
Name 2 causes of an increased M:E ratio
- Decreased erythroid production with normal or increased myeloid production: anemia of chronic disease, CKD
- Increased myeloid production with normal erythroid numbers: inflammation
80% of the nucleated erythroid cells in the bone marrow should be what stages of development?
Rubricytes or metarubricytes
80% of the nucleated myeloid cells in the bone marrow should be what stages of development?
Metamyelocytes, bands, or segmented neutrophils
What is ineffective hematopoiesis?
- Death or destruction of hematopoietic cells within the marrow - mature cells are not released into circulation
- Hypercellular marrow with concurrent peripheral cytopenia
What stain is used to assess iron stores in bone marrow?
Prussian Blue - better to directly stain slides, as destaining and then restraining with Prussian Blue underestimates iron stores
What flow cytometry maker identifies monocytes?
CD14, CD172a
What flow cytometry maker identifies B cells?
CD19, CD20, CD79a = all B lymphocytes
CD21 = mature B lymphocytes
What flow cytometry maker identifies hematopoietic stem cells?
CD34
What bone marrow changes may be seen with acute bone marrow injury?
Neutrophilic inflammation, myelonecrosis, hypo-aplasia, or dysmyelopoiesis
Name 2 drugs that cause dose-dependent myelotoxicity
Chemotherapeutics
Cephalosporins
Estrogen
Name 3 drugs that cause idiosyncratic myelotoxicity
Sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, griseofulvin, antiparasitics
What hormone is secreted by Sertoli cell tumors?
Estrogen (70% are functional)
Bone marrow is considered one of the most sensitive tissues to sample for the diagnosis of what infectious agent?
Leishmania
What histopathologic changes can be seen with chronic bone marrow injury?
Chronic inflammation, myelofibrosis, osteosclerosis, and/or gelatinous transformation
What is the most common cell type noted in the bone marrow of cats with chronic inflammation? In dogs?
Cats: Benign lymphocytosis - usually aggregates of B cells
Dogs: Plasmacytosis
Bone marrow plasmacytosis has been noted with what two infectious diseases in dogs?
Ehrlich canis, Leishmania
What is the definition of myelofibrosis?
Proliferation of fibroblasts, collagen, or reticulin fibers in the hematopoietic space
What causes primary myelofibrosis?
Clonal myeloproliferative neoplasms - in humans, often secondary to mutations in JAK2, CALR, or MPL
What causes secondary myelofibrosis?
Likely a reactive change secondary to bone marrow injury and cytokine stimulation of fibroblasts
Associated with myelonecrosis, neoplasia, drugs, IMHA, irradiation, PK deficiency (dogs), FIP, CKD (cats)
What causes gelatinous transformation (aka serous atrophy of fat)?
Prolonged starvation or anorexia
What is myelodysplasia or dysmyelopoiesis?
Heterogenous group of bone marrow disorders characterized by abnormalities in precursor cell maturation => dysplastic changes and ineffective hematopoiesis
What is found on bone marrow histopathology on cases of myelodysplasia?
- Peripheral cytopenia with hyper cellular marrow
- Evidence of dysplastic changes to one or more cell lines
What causes primary myelodysplastic syndrome?
Clonal expansion of a defective pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell
What causes secondary myelodysplastic syndrome?
Still a clonal disorder but caused by exposure to gamma radiation, FeLV infection, or drug exposure
What causes cyclic hematopoiesis?
Impaired intracellular trafficking and misdirection of proteins to the membrane rather than granules => cyclic neutropenia with granulocytic hypoplasia in the bone marrow
What causes secondary dysmyelopoiesis?
- NOT clonal (unlikely myelodysplasia)
- Drug associated (vincristine, chloramphenicol, phenobarbital, estrogen, lead)
- Disease associated (lymphoma, myeloma, IMHA, ITP, etc)
- Iron or cobalamin associated
Where is the majority of the total body iron located?
Hemoglobin and myoglobin
Where can iron be stored in the body?
Within hepatocytes, within macrophages of the spleen, liver and bone marrow
What is hemosiderin?
Partially degraded ferritin (less soluble)
What transporter is located on the apical surface of enterocytes and allows iron absorption from the gut?
DMT1
What regulates proteosomal-degredation of DMT1 and ferroportin?
Hepcidin - so when hepcidin concentrations are high, DMT1 and ferroportin are degraded and less iron is absorbed
What transporter is located on the basolateral membrane of enterocytes and allow iron to be absorbed from the enterocyte into the blood?
Ferroportin
What other cells express ferroportin? What is the effect of hepcidin on these cells?
- Hepatocytes and macrophages - allows storage of iron
- Hepcidin also causes decreased ferroportin on these cells => sequestration of iron
What factors cause increased hepcidin transcription (leading to decreased iron absorption and increased sequestration)?
High iron stores/plasma iron
Inflammation
What factors cause decreased hepcidin transcription (leading to increased iron absorption and decreased sequestration)?
Anemia, hypoxia, iron deficiency
Ferritin is usually considered an indicator of total body iron. However, what can increase ferritin levels?
Inflammation - acute phase protein
So iron deficient animals with significant inflammation may have “normal” ferritin
Do cats store iron in their bone marrow?
No - lack of hemosiderin staining is normal
What blood product could be used instead of fresh frozen plasma to treat vitamin K deficient/rodenticide?
Cryopoor plasma
What causes hemophilia A?
Factor VIII deficiency
Hemophilia A will result in prolongation of what clotting test?
aPTT
NOT PT
In dogs with heatstroke, what coagulation parameters were associated with outcome?
Prolonged PT, aPTT, total protein C activity, and low fibrinogen at 12-24 hours
In a clinical trial comparing lyophilized platelets vs cryopreserved platelets, which treatment had improved bleeding scores 1 hour after administration? At 24 hour?
Lyophilized platelets - improved DOGiBAT score at 1 hour
Both groups similar at 24 hours