HAEM Flashcards
Define Von Willebrand disease
Bleeding disorder which may present with mucocutaneous bleeding (mouth, epistaxis, menorrhagia), increased bleeding after trauma and easy bruising
What are the 3 types of VWD
There are THREE types of von Willebrand disease:
o Type 1 - the von Willebrand factor works well but there isn’t enough of it
o Type 2 - there are normal levels of von Willebrand factor but it is abnormal and doesn’t function correctly
o Type 3 - there is NO von Willebrand factor
What does vWF normally do?
vWF is an adhesive bridge between platelets and the damaged subendothelial collagen
vWF also binds to factor VIII and prevents its degradation
What are the genetics of vW disease
- Caused by abnormality in the expression/function of vWF
* Usually autosomal dominant
Recognise the signs and presenting symptoms of von Willbrand disease
- Easy bruising
- Epistaxis - hard to stop
- Prolonged bleeding from gums after dental procedures • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Blood in stools
- Blood in urine
- Heavy bleeding from a cut or other accident
Identify appropriate investigations for von Willebrand disease AND their results.
- Bleeding time - HIGH
- APTT - HIGH
- Factor VIII - LOW
- vWF - LOW
- Ristocetin cofactor - reduced platelet aggregation by vWF in the presence of ristocetin
What’s APTT
The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT or PTT) is a functional measure of the intrinsic and common pathways of the coagulation cascade. … The aPTT test measures the length of time (in seconds) that it takes for clotting to occur when reagents are added to plasma (liquid portion of the blood) in a test tube
44yo asian female presents with 2 months of SOB and lethargy
She recently became a vegetarian
Blood film: elliptocytes
Bloods: Low Hb, Low MCV, Low Ferritin
Fe Deficiency anemia
classic
the most common microcytic anemia
she became a vegetarian = reduced Fe intake.
Explain the aetiology/risk factors of microcytic anaemia
• Iron Deficiency - MOST COMMON
o Iron deficiency can be caused by:
• Blood loss (e.g. GI)
• Reduced absorption (e.g. small bowel disease)
• Increased demands (e.g. growth, pregnancy)
• Reduced intake (e.g. vegans)
• Anaemia of Chronic Disease
o Microcytic anaemia in a patient with chronic disease
• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic Anaemia
o Abnormality of haem synthesis
o It can be inherited or it can be secondary (e.g. to alcohol, drugs)
Recognise the presenting symptoms of microcytic anaemia
• Non-Specific o Tiredness * o Lethargy o Malaise o Dyspnoea * o Pallor o Exacerbation of ischaemic conditions (e.g. angina, intermittent claudication)
• Lead Poisoning - can cause microcytic anaemia Symptoms of lead poisoning o Anorexia o Nausea/Vomiting o Abdominal pain o Constipation o Peripheral nerve lesions
Recognise the signs of microcytic anaemia on physical examination
• Signs of anaemia o Pallor o Brittle nails and hair o Koilonychia (if severe) • Glossitis • Angular stomatitis • Signs of thalassemia
• Lead poisoning signs: o Blue gumline * o Peripheral nerve lesions (causing wrist or foot drop) o Encephalopathy o Convulsions o Reduced consciousness
Identify appropriate investigations for microcytic anaemia
BLOODS o FBC • Low Hb • Low MCV • Reticulocytes o Serum iron (low in iron deficiency) o Total iron binding capacity (high in iron deficiency) o Serum ferritin (low in iron deficiency) o Serum lead
BLOOD FILM o Iron deficiency anaemia: • Microcytic • Hypochromic • Anisocytosis • Poikilocytosis o Sideroblastic anaemia: • Dimorphic blood film • Hypochromic microcytic cells o Lead poisoning: • Basophilic stippling
• Hb Electrophoresis
o Checking for haemoglobin variants and thalassemia
• Sideroblastic Anaemia
o Ring sideroblasts in the bone marrow
• Special investigations for iron deficiency anaemia if > 40 yrs and post-menopausal women
These are considered if no obvious cause of blood loss is identified
o Upper GI endoscopy
o Colonoscopy
o Haematuria
Generate a management plan for microcytic anaemia
• Iron Deficiency - oral iron supplements
• Sideroblastic Anaemia
o Treat the cause
o Pyridoxine used in inherited forms
o Blood transfusion and iron chelation can be considered if there is no response to other treatments
• Lead Poisoning
o Remove the source
o Dimercaprol
o D-penicillinamine
Identify possible complications of microcytic anaemia
- High-output cardiac failure
* Complications related to the CAUSE
Explain the 2 main types of macrocytic anaemia and their RF/aetiology
MEGALOBLASTIC- when the bone marrow produces unusually large, structurally abnormal, immature red cells
–> Caused by deficiency of B12 or folate required for the
conversion of deoxyuridate to thymidylate, DNA
synthesis and nuclear maturation
o Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency:
• Reduced absorption (e.g. post-gastrectomy, pernicious anaemia, terminal ileal resection or disease)
• Reduced intake (vegans)
• Abnormal metabolism (congenital transcobalamin II deficiency)
o Causes of Folate Deficiency:
• Reduced intake (alcoholics, elderly, anorexia)
• Increased demand (pregnancy, lactation, malignancy, chronic inflammation)
• Reduced absorption
• Jejunal disease (e.g. coeliac disease)
• Drugs (e.g. phenytoin)
o Drugs
• Methotrexate (dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor)
• Hydroxyurea
• Azathioprine (Crohn’s, UC)
• Zidovudine
NON MEGALOBLASTIC o Alcohol excess o Liver disease o Myelodysplasia o Multiple myeloma o Hypothyroidism o Haemolysis (shift to immature red cell form - reticulocytosis) o Drugs (e.g. tyrosine kinase inhibitor)
Recognise the presenting symptoms of macrocytic anaemia
• Non-specific symptoms of anaemia:
o Tiredness
o Lethargy
o Dyspnoea
• Family history of autoimmune disease
• Previous GI surgery
• Symptoms of the CAUSE (e.g. weight loss, diarrhoea)
Recognise the signs of macrocytic anaemia on physical examination
• Signs of Anaemia o Pallor o Tachycardia o Breathlessness • Signs of Pernicious Anaemia (IF) o Mild jaundice o Glossitis o Angular stomatitis o Weight loss • Signs of B12 Deficiency o Peripheral neuropathy * "cant sit up from chair" o Ataxia o Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord o Optic atrophy o Dementia
Identify appropriate investigations for macrocytic anaemia
BLOODS
o FBC
• High MCV
• Pancytopaenia in megaloblastic anaemia
• Different degrees of cytopaenia in myelodysplasia
• Exclude reticulocytosis
o LFT - High bilirubin (due to ineffective erythropoiesis or haemolysis)
o ESR
o TFT
o Serum vitamin B12
o Red cell folate
o Anti-parietal cell and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies
o Serum protein electrophoresis M looking for a dense band in myeloma
BLOOD FILM o Large erythrocytes o In megaloblastic anaemia: • Megaloblasts • Hypersegmented neutrophil nuclei *
• Schilling Test
o Method of testing for pernicious anaemia
o B12 will only be absorbed when given with intrinsic factor
• Bone Marrow Biopsy (rarely needed)
• Investigations for the cause
Generate a management plan for macrocytic anaemia
• Pernicious Anaemia - IM hydroxycobalamin for life
• Folate Deficiency
o Oral folic acid
o If B12 deficiency is present, it must be treated before the folic acid deficiency
Identify possible complications of macrocytic anaemia
- Pernicious anaemia –> increased risk of gastric cancer
* Pregnancy - folate deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects
Classic presentation of b12 deficiency
Middle aged/elderly female
Complains of tiredness, dyspnoea, easily fatigues “difficulty getting up the chair” “difficulty holding her books”
Noticed tingling sensation in her fingers
Anaemia of chronic disease mechanism
An underlying disease causes and inflammatory process involving cytokines to occur. CRP and ESR are raised.
The effect of these cytokines is to interrupt the homeostasis of iron.
EPO is inhibited, iron is unable to flow out of RBC, ferritin production is increased and RBC death is increased.
This results in anaemia with raised ferritin levels (and in prolonged cases low serum Fe)
Where is b12 absorbed?
Terminal ileum
Crohns
Where is folate absorbed?
Proximal duodenum
Define DIC
• A disorder of the clotting cascade that can complicate a serious illness.
What are the 2 forms of DIC?
ACUTE OVERT FORM where there is bleeding and depletion of platelets and clotting factors
CHRONIC NON OVERT FORM where thromboembolism is accompanied by generalised activation of the coagulation system
Explain the aetiology for DIC
• Infection - particularly GRAM-NEGATIVE sepsis
• Obstetric Complications
o Missed miscarriage (when the foetus dies but the body doesn’t realise it and the placenta continues to release hormones)
o Severe pre-eclampsia
o Placental abruption (separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy)
o Amniotic emboli
• Malignancy
o Acute promyelocytic leukaemia - ACUTE DIC
o Lung, breast and GI malignancy - CHRONIC DIC
- Severe trauma or surgery
- Others: haemolytic transfusion reaction, burns, severe liver disease, aortic aneurysms, haemangiomas
Explain the pathophysiology of DIC for ACUTE DIC
Acute DIC
• Endothelial damage and the release of granulocyte /macrophage procoagulant substances (e.g. tissue factor) lead to activation of coagulation
• This leads to explosive thrombin generation, which depletes clotting factors and platelets, whilst also activating the fibrinolytic system
• This leads to bleeding in the subcutaneous tissues, skin and mucous membranes
• Occlusion of blood vessels by fibrin in the microcirculation leads to microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and ischaemic organ damage
Explain the pathophysiology of CHRONIC DIC
o Chronic DIC
• IDENTICAL process to acute DI
• Happens at a slower rate with time for compensatory responses
• The compensatory responses diminish the likelihood of bleeding but give rise to hypercoagulable states and thrombosis can occur