Haem Flashcards
What is prothrombin time
The coagulation speed through the extrinsic pathway (10-13.5s)
How do you calculate INR
Patient PT/ Reference PT
What can raise INR
Anticoags
Liver Disease
Vit K deficiency
Disseminated intravascular coag (DIC)
What is Activated partial Thrombo-plastin (APT) time
Coagulation speed through Intrinsic Pathway
Examples of microcytic anaemia
Fe deficiency (MC)
Thalassemia
sideroblastic anaemia
Lead poisoning
Chronic disease
Examples of Haemolytic normocytic anaemia
Sickle cell
GGPDH deficiency
Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia (AHA)
Hereditary spherocytosis (rbc are spherical instead of bi-concave)
Examples of non haemolytic anaemia
Aplastic
Chronic disease (especially CKD)
Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
Examples of megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia
B12 Deficiency
Folate deficiency
Examples of non-megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia
Alcohol
Hypothyroidism
NALD
Symptoms of anaemia
Fatigue, pallor, chest pain, exertional dyspnoea, tachycardia, hypotension, palpitations
Most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia worldwide
Hookworm (causes GI bleeding)
What age is recommended for urgent endoscopy with fe deficiency
60+ (red flag for colon cancer)
What can cause malabsorption of fe
IBD, Coeliac
Other than general anaemia Sx, what do you get in fe deficiency
Koilonchya (spoon-shaped nails)
Angular stomatitis (ulceration @ mouth corners)
Atrophic glossitis (tongue enlarged)
What do you see on blood film of fe deficiency anaemia
Hypochromic RBC, target cells + howell Jolly bodies
What do fe studies show in someone with fe deficiency anaemia
Low serum fe
Low ferritin
Low transferrin
Raised Total iron binding capacity
What is the treatment for fe deficiency anaemia
Treat underlying causes then
Ferrous sulphate (Oral Fe)
What are side effects of ferrous sulphate
GI upset, diarrhoea/ constipation, black stool
If poorly tolerated then consider ferrous gluconate
What is the inheritance pattern of thalassemia
Autosomal resseive
What anaemias are protective against malaria
Thalassemia, sickle cell
What is the gold standard investigation for Thalassemia
Hb electrophoresis
Is alpha or beta thalassemia more common
Beta
What mutations cause alpha thalassemia
4 genes of chromosome 16 (deletions)
What mutations cause beta thalassemia
2 genes on chromosome 11
Which thalassemia is associated with abnormal Hb isoforms
Alpha (HbH isoform)
What are the 3 classes of beta thalassemia
Thalassemia minor/ intermedia/ major
Minor:- carrier
Inter:- marked anemia
Major:- severe anaemia
What gene abnormalities do patients have with each of the beta thalassemia classes
Minor:- 1 abnormal 1 normal
Inter:- 1 abnormal 1 deletion or 2 abnormal
Major:- 2 deletion
Other than general anaemia Sx, what do you see in beta-thalassemia major
Chipmunk face:- massively enlarged cheekbones and forehead due to decreased RBC needing extramedullary haematopoiesis
Hepatosplenomegaly
Failure to thrive
May see RUQ pain due to gallstones
What do you see on blood film in thalassemia
Hypochromic RBC, Target cells
What do you see on XR in thalassemia
‘Hair on end’ due to increased bone marrow activity in the skull
What is the treatment for thalassemia
Regular transfusion
Iron chelation:- to prevent Fe overload
Splenectomy after 6 y/o
Folate supplements for haemolytic
Vit C
What is side effecst of iron chelation
Deafness
Cataracts
Why do you wait until after 6 y/o for splenectomy in thalassemia
Spleen plays a defensive role against encapsulated bacteria
What is the definitive treatment for thalassemia
BM stem cell transplant:- risky
What is sideroblastic anaemia
Defective Hb synthesis
What is most common inheratance for sideroblastic anemia
X linked
What is a functional Fe deficiency
High levels of Fe but not used in Hb synthesis, becomes trapped in mitochondria
What do you see on blood film in sideroblastic anemia
Ringed sideroblasts + basophilic strupping
What do Fe studies show in sideroblastic anaemia
High Fe
High ferritin
High transferrin sats
Low Total iron binding capacity
Where can haemolyisis occur and what is marker to differentiate
Intravascular:- marked by raised haptoglobin
Extravascular @ spleen
What is the inheritance pattern for sickle cell anaemia
Autosomal recessive
GS investigation for sickle cell anaemia
Hb electrophoresis
What malaria is sickle cell protective against
Falciparum malaria
What is the mutation and amino acid change seen in sickle cell anaemia
GAG to GTG
Glutamic acid to valine
Which codon is affected in sickle cell anemia
6th
What are the complications of sickle cell anaemia
Splenic sequestration:- spleen expanding due to trapped RBC
Vaso-occlusive crisis:- sickle cells polymerise and get trapped in long bone blood vessels
Acute chest crisis:- pulmonary vaso-occlusion (emergency)
In patients with sickle cell disease, what organism is most likely to cause osteomyelitis
Salmonella
What do you see on the blood film in sickle cell anaemia
Normocytic normochromic w/ increased reticulocytes
Sickled RBC + Howell Jolly Bodies
How do you treat acute attacks in sickle cell
IV Fluid+ NSAIDS + O2
What is the long term treatment for sickle cell disease
Hydroxycarbamide + folic acid supps
Transfusion, Fe Chelation
What is the inheritance pattern for G6PDH Deficiency
X linked recessive
What is the pathology of G6PDH deficiency anaemia
Enzynompathy causes a dysfunction in the G6PDH enzyme which is involved in the synthesis of glutathione. Glutathione protects RBC against ROS. Halfs the length of RBC
Symptoms of G6PDH deficiency
Mostly aSx unless precipitated
Naphthalene:- Pesticide in mothballs
Antimalarials:- quinine
Aspirin
Fava Beans:- Contains Glucosides
How does a G6PDH attack present
Rapid anemia+ Jaundice
What do you see on a blood film of G6PDH between attakcs
Normal
What do you see on a blood film in a G6PDH attack
Normocytic normochromic w/ increased reticulocytes
Heinz bodies + bite cells
What is management for G6PDH deficiency
Avoid precipitants
Transfusions when attacks ensue
What is the inheritance pattern for Hereditary Spherocytosis
Autosomal dominant
Age of onset for CML, CLL, AML, ALL
ALL CeLLmates have CoMmon AMbitions
ALL:- under 5 over 45
CLL:- over 55
CML:- over 65
AML:- over 75
1st line investigation in Lueakmia
FBC
DDx of Petechiae
Leukaemia
Meningococcal septicaemia
Vasculitis
Non-Accidental injury
GS investigation for leukaemia
Bone marrow biopsy
Bone marrow aspiration vs Bone marrow trephine
Aspiration:- liquid sample, can be examined straight away
Trephine:- Solid core sample provides better picture, requires a few days of preparation
What cell is usually affected n ALL
Proliferation of B-Lymphocytes
What chromosome abnormality is ALL associated with
Trisomy 21 Downs