haem Flashcards
Acanthocytes
(Spur/spike cells)
RBCs show many spicules
Liver disease, hyposplenism, abetalipoproteinaemia (rare)
Basophilic RBC stippling
Accelerated erythropoiesis or defective Hb synthesis, small dots at the periphery are seen (rRNA)
Lead poisoning, megaloblastic anaemia, myelodysplasia, liver disease, haemoglobinopathies e.g. thalassaemia
Burr cells
(Echinocyte)
Like a sea urchin with regular spicules
Often an artefact if blood has sat in EDTA prior to film being made.
Uraemia, renal failure, GI bleeding, stomach carcinoma
Heinz bodies
Inclusions on very edge of RBCs due to denatured Hb
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, chronic liver disease
Howell-Jolly bodies
Basophilic (purple spot) nuclear remnants in RBCs
[Note: much bigger purple spots in nucleated RBCs)
Post-splenectomy or hyposplenism (e.g. sickle cell disease)
Megaloblastic anaemia
hereditary spherocytosis
Leucoerythroblastic
A phrase to denote the presence of nucleated red blood cells and myeloid precursors in peripheral blood
Bone marrow infiltration i.e. myelofibrosis, malignancy
Pelger Huet Cells
Hyposegmented neutrophil with 2 lobes like a dumbbell
Pseudo-pelger huet cells are also hypogranular
Congenital (lamin B Receptor mutation)
Acquired (myelogenous leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndromes [pseudo-pelger in MDS])
Polychromasia
Bluish red blood cells due to presence of DNA. Polychromatic cells are usually reticulocytes which are immature RBCs
Usually increased naturally in response to shortened RBC life
↑in haemolytic anaemias
↓aplastic anaemia, chemo
Right shift
Hypermature white cells - hypersegmented polymorphs (>5 lobes to nucleus)
Megaloblastic anaemia, uraemia, liver disease
Rouleaux formation
Red cells stacked on each other
Chronic inflammation,
paraproteinaemia,
multiple myeloma
Schistocytes
Fragmented parts of RBCs – typically irregularly shaped with sharp edges and no central pallor
Microangiopathic anaemia, e.g. DIC, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, pre-eclampsia
Spherocytes
Sphere shaped RBCs
Often a little smaller
Hereditary spherocytosis,
Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia
Stomatocytes
Central pallor is straight, curved or rod-like shape. RBCs appear as ‘smiling faces’ or ‘fish mouth’
Can be an artefact during slide preparation.
If not: Hereditary stomatocytosis, high alcohol intake, liver disease
Target cells (codocyte)
Bull’s-eye appearance in central pallor
Liver disease, hyposplenism, thalassaemia, IDA
poikilocytosis
(shape) pencil cells
in iron deficiency anaemia
Sideroblastic Anaemia
Ineffective erythropoiesis → iron loading (bone marrow) causing haemosiderosis (endocrine, liver, and cardiac damage due to iron deposition).
* Diagnosis: Ring sideroblasts seen in the bone marrow (erythroid precursors with iron deposited in mitochondria in a ring around the nucleus).
* Causes: myelodysplastic disorders, following chemotherapy, irradiation, alcohol excess, lead excess, anti-TB drugs or myeloproliferative disease.
* Treatment: Remove the cause and consider Pyridoxine (vitamin B6 promotes RBC production). Consider giving EPO.
what does Megaloblastic blood film mean?
= Hypersegmented polymorphs, leukopenia, macrocytosis, anaemia, thrombocytopenia with megaloblasts. Megaloblasts are red cell precursors with an immature nucleus and mature cytoplasm. B12 and folate are required for nucleus maturation.
how to manage pernicious anaemia ?
Treatment: Replenish stores with IM hydroxocobalamin (B12) in 6 injections over 2 weeks.
NICE recommend testing for anti-parietal cell / anti-intrinsic factor antibodies as if there is an autoimmune cause rather than dietary, patients will need 3-monthly IM injections.
inheritance of G6pD
X linked recessive
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (inheriatnce, features, treatment)
- Autosomal recessive (but autosomal dominant has been observed with the disorder)
- Clinical features: can be severe neonatal jaundice, splenomegaly, haemolytic anaemia
- Treatment: most do not require treatment (can incl blood transfusion or splenectomy)
how is sickle cell diagnosed ?
Diagnosis: sickle cells and target cells on blood film, sickle solubility test, Hb electrophoresis, Guthrie test (birth) to aid prompt pneumococcal prophylaxis (+FHx)
inheritance of factor 8 and fatcor 9 defiicney
X linkned recessive