Haem Flashcards
presentation ALL
CHILDREN lymphadenopathy hepatosplenomegaly pallor ecchymoses or petechiae fatigue dizziness
Ix for ALL
bone marrow aspirate - immunophenotyping
what is ALL
clonal malignancy of lymphoid precursors
what is AML
clonal malignancy of myeloid precursors
presentation AML
ADULTS hepatosplenomegaly pallor ecchymoses or petechiae fatigue dizziness
Auer rods on peripheral blood smear
AML
CD24+ve on immunophenotyping
AML
smudge cells on peripheral blood smear
CLL
presentation CLL
often asymptomatic!!
common myeloid progenitor produces … what two further groups of progenitor cells?
megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitor
myelocyte progenitor
megakaryocyte erythrocyte progenitor produces what cell types
erythrocytes (RBC) & platelets
myeloid progenitor produces what cell types?
Granulocytes
- neutrophils
- eosinophils
- basophils
Macrophages
common lymphoid progenitor produces what cell types?
B cells
T cells
NK cells
Dendritic cells
RBC lifespan
120d
hormone regulating erythropoiesis
erythropoietin (from the kidneys) - detects reduced O2 and stimulates RBC production in the bone marrow
where does the nucleus of RBCs disintegrate
In the bone marrow
what is a reticulocyte
the earliest RBC in the blood stream - larger and blue appearance due to RNA
structure of Hb
4 globin subunits with a single haem molecule
what is a haem molecule composed of
single Fe2+ ion, surrounded by a porphyrin ring
breakdown products of RBC
amino acids
iron
unconjugated bilirubin (secreted into bile for conjugation in the liver to be excreted)
platelet lifespan
7-10 d
neutrophil appearance on blood film
segmented nucleus
eosinophil appearance on blood film
bi-lobed nucleus
basophil appearance on blood film
large granules that obscure nucleus
monocyte appearance blood film
kidney bean nucleus
lymphocyte appearance blood film
small spherical nucleus
cause of a microcytic anaemia
cytoplasmic defect (Hb is made in the cytoplasm)
therefore there is a problem with haemoglobinisation
lack of availability of:
haem (iron, porphyrin ring) or globin
causes of iron deficiency anaemia
diet deficiency
blood loss
malabsorption
presentation iron deficiency anaemia
fatigue
hair loss
nail changes (koilonychia)
pica (craving non food items)
koilonychia
spoon nails
blood results in iron deficiency
low Hb, low MCV (microcytic anaemia)
low ferritin
low retic count
low transferrin saturation
ferritin
measure of iron storage
Mx iron deficiency anaemia
ferrous fumarate for 3-6m (tds)
s/e of ferrous fumarate
black stools
causes of porphyrin ring synthesis problems
lead poisoning
v rare
causes of globin chain synthesis problems
thalassemia’s (reduced rate of production globin chain)
sickle cell anaemia (abnormal structure of globin chain)
inheritance of thalassaemia
autosomal recessive
HbA
2 alpha chains
2 beta chains
HbA2
2 alpha chains
2 delta chains
HbF
2 alpha chains
2 gamma chains
what forms of Hb are affected in alpha thal
all forms!
all contain alpha
alpha thal trait
1 or 2 genes missing
- carrier state
- no Tx needed
HbH disease (alpha thal)
only one gene left
- mild anaemia
- jaundice
- splenomegaly
Hb Barts hydrops fetalis (alpha thal)
no functional genes
- severe anaemia
- growth retardation
- most die in utero
what forms of Hb are affected in beta thal
only HbA
the only one to contain beta
forms of beta thal
beta thal trait
beta thal intermedia
beta thal major
beta thal trait presentation
asymptomatic
no/mild anaemia
beta thal intermedia presentation
requires occ transfusion
beta thal major presentation
present aged 6-24m (HbF stores have depleted)
failure to thrive
pallor
extramedullary haemopoeisis
Mx beta thal major
regular lifelong transfusions + iron chelation (desferrioxamine)
inheritance of sickle cell anaemia
autosomal recessive
forms of sickle cell anaemia
sickle cell trait
sickle cell anaemia
sickle cell trait presentation
HbAS (one normal beta gene, one abnormal)
- asymptomatic carrier state
- may sickle in severe hypoxia
sickle cell anaemia presentation
HbSS (both beta genes abnormal)
- vascular occlusions and episodes of tissue infarct
Mx sickle cell anaemia
hydroxycarbamide (induces HbF)
penicillin
folic acid
Ix for thalassaemia
HPLC test
cause of a megaloblastic anaemia
nuclear defect - there is a problem with cell division
therefore there is abnormally large nucleated red cell precursors with an immature nucleus.
causes of a megaloblastic anaemia
B12 or folate deficiency
pernicious anaemia
vit B12 deficiency causes - what symp?
neurological problems
where is B12 absorbed
terminal ileum
what does B12 need to bind to for absorption
intrinsic factor (produced by gastric parietal cells)
where is folate absorbed
jejunum
blood film appearance in B12 or folate deficiency
hyper-segmented polymorphs
macro-ovalocytes
Mx B12 deficiency
IM hydroxocolbalamin (3xwk for 2w)
Mx folate deficiency
folic acid 5mg/day for 4m
why should you never give folic acid w/out checking B12 level
can induce subacute degeneration of the spinal cord
what is pernicious anaemia
autoimmune condition -
autoantibodies against gastric parietal cells, therefore no IF produced, therefore no B12 absorption
autoantibodies in pernicious anaemia
anti-intrinsic factor (specific, not sensitive)
anti-gastric parietal cells (sensitive, not specific)
Mx pernicious anaemia
B12 inj for life (hydroxocolbalamin)
causes of a non megalobastic macrocytic anaemia
alcohol
liver disease
marrow failure
hypothyroidism
cause of a false (spurious) macrocytic anaemia
cold agglutinins
haemolysis
when is haemolysis said to have progressed to haemolytic anaemia
when breakdown of RBCs exceeds response!
what are the normal responses to RBC breakdown
reticulocytosis and erythroid hyperplasia
what is extravascular haemolysis
excessive breakdown of RBC at the NORMAL site of destruction (spleen +/- liver)
therefore
you get the NORMAL breakdown products, but in excess:
- unconjugated bilirubinaemia
- urobilogenuria
causes of extravascular haemolysis
hereditary spherocytosis
sickle cell disease
autoimmune haemolysis
inheritance of hereditary spherocytosis
autosomal dominant
pathology of hereditary spherocytosis
RBCs are sphere shaped rather than biconcave disc, causing membrane disruption and destruction by the spleen.
blood film hereditary spherocytosis
spherocytes
Mx hereditary spherocytosis
RBC transfusions + folate replacement
autoimmune haemolysis
warm temperatures = IgG
cold temperatures = IgM
what is intravascular haemolysis
excessive breakdown of RBC within the circulation i.e. ABNORMAL site
therefore you get ABNORMAL breakdown products in excess: - haemoglobinaemia - methylalbuminaemia - haemoglobinuria - haemosiderinuria
causes of intravascular haemolysis
G6PD deficiency
ABO incompatability
DIC
HUS