Haem Flashcards
What are 2 types of ITP
Primary- no identifiable cause
Secondary- alongside a precipitant or associated condition
What is priapism
Extended and painful erection
Where are petechiae most commonly found
Lower limbs
Rare treatments for SCD
Bone marrow transplant
Gene therapy
Diagnosis of ITP
Diagnosis of exclusion so all tests normal except for low plts
No systemic signs
No organomegaly
No lymphadenopathy
Complications of SCD
Avascular necrosis in bones Stroke MI Splenic sequestration Chronic cholecystisis and gall stones
Signs on examination of ITP
No lymphadenopathy
No organomegaly
No other signs
Just petechiae or bruising
What happens when renal pupillae is occluded
Necrosis- presents with haematuria and proteinuria
What happens to haptoglobin in intravascular haemolysis
Goes down
What make up majority of splenic sequestration cases
6 months to 2yrs infants with SCD
Complications of TTP
Stroke, MI and any thrombo-embolic events
What is low haptoglobin a sign of
Intravascular haemolysis
Definitive test for TTP
ADAMTS- 13 activity test- takes a month
Acquired non immune causes of thrombocytopenia
Infection
Drugs
Malignancy
Which drugs can cause thrombocytopenia
Anti platelets and any blood thinning drugs
Alcohol
Sulfa drugs
Quinine
How does SCD affect the spleen
Infarct which can lead to backup of blood in spleen- splenic sequestration
Where is SCD commonly found
People of african and South asia descent due to evolutionary protection against malaria
Risk factors for ITP
Women of childbearing age- tends to be chronic
People under age of 10 and above 65- tends to be more acute so presents after a viral infection for example
Treatment for SCD
Vaccines Anitbiotics to treat any underlying infections Fluids and oxygen Opiods for crises Transfusions Penicillin prophylaxis Hydroxyurea
What is name given to heterozygote SCD
Sickle cell trait
How does hydroxyurea work
Increases production of gamma Hb which composes HbF. HbF doesnt include HbS so reduces sickling
What is danger of splenectomy or dysfunctional spleen
Susceptible to encapsulated bacteria as they are normally opsonised and phagocytosed there
Findings of TTP investigations
FBC- platelets and RBC low
Blood film- reduced platelets and schistocytes present
Reticulocyte count- raised
Urinalysis- kidney issues common so protein in urine common and U and Es will be pathological
Haptoglobin- down
What are some conditions assocaited with secondary ITP
HIV
Hep C
Lupus
Pathophysiology of TTP
Antibodies formed against enzyme that cleaves VwF meaning VwFs circulate without inhibition leading to spontaneous and excessive thrombous formation which cause ischaemia and shearing of RBCs
3 factors that increase sickling
Acidosis
Dehydration
Hypoxia
TTP pentad of symptoms
Renal disease Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia Thrombocytopenic purpura Neurological symptoms Fever
What happens to Hb after RBC breakdown
Binds to haptoglobin
Dangers of transfusions
Iron overload
Antibodies produced against future infections
What is petechiae
Small red or purple spots on skin or mucosal membranes that indicate small capillary bleeds
Risk factors for SCD
Family inheritance
What is particular SCD symptom for men
Priapism
What is result of splenic infarcts over time
Auto-splenectomy where it fibroses down to become very small
Presentation of TTP
Prodrome for a week
Neurological symptoms such as confusion, drowsiness, focal symptoms and coma
Digestive symptoms including vomiting, diarrorhoea and abdo pain
Bleeding signs such as bruising and purpura
Fever
Define TTP
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenic purpura coupled.
Investigations and findings for ITP
FBC- low platelets and no other abnormalities
Blood film- fewer platelets which can be larger in size
Bone marrow biopsy- increased megakaryocytes due to need for production, no dysplasia and normal cytogenics
Signs of increased inconjugated bilirubin
Scleral icterus
Jaundice
Gallstones
Dactylitis
Swollen joints on the back of hands and feet
Investigations of TTP
FBC- RBC and Plt Blood film Reticulocyte count Urinalysis and U and Es Haptoglobin
What is TTP
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Define sickle cell disease
Autosomal recessive disease in beta chain of Hb resulting in the formation of sickle cell shaped RBCs due to agglutination of Hb
Site of extramedullary haematopoeisis
Liver- hepatomegaly
Common symptoms of SCD
Painful crises anywhere from legs to chest
Swollen dorsa of hands for feet joints- dactylistis
DUE TO VASO-OCCLUSIVE CRISES
Risk factors for TTP
Black
Age 20-50
Stresses on body such as infection, pregnancy and maligancy
What does excessive recycling of haptoglobin bound to Hb lead to
Increased unconjugated bilirubin
Acquired immune causes of thrombocytopenia
ITP
TTP
AI disorder
Anti phospholipid syndrome
Differentials of thrombocytopenia by category
Hereditary
Acquired immune
Acquired non immune
What is living with sickle cell trait like
Comfortable- only have problems during hypoxia such as altitude and exercise
What is ITP
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Symptoms of ITP
Any sign of bleeding, normally on legs
No signs of alternative cause such as lymphadenopathy, systemic symptoms or splenomegaly
No drugs which cause thrombocytopenia
What happens to bone in anaemia
Increased production of reticulocytes resulting in new bone formation due to medullary expansion
How does medullary expansion appear on examination
Enlarged cheeks
What is complication when SCD RBCs occlude pulnmary arteries
Acute chest syndrome- blockage results in build up of deoxygenated blood which sets up negative feedback loop as pulnomary arteries constrict in hypoxia
Define ITP
Isolated thrombocytopenia in absence of identifiable cause. Involves autoimmune antibody destruction of peripheral platetels. IgG produced by spleen
Which encapsulated bacteria does splenectomy increase risk of
Strep pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Neissera meningitidis
Salmonella
How does medullary expansion appear on head XR
“hair on ends” appearance to skull- increased haematopoeisis
Investigations for SCD
Newborn blood spot in a lot of countries FBC Blood smear Protein electrophoresis Urinalysis LFTs Lung function
3 causes of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
DIC
TTP
HUS
Blood features of DIC
Low Plts Anaemia Low fibrinogen Increased PT/APTT Increase D-dimer
Blood features of HUS
Decreased Hb
Increased Bilirubin
Uraemia
Reduced plts
Hereditary cause of haemolytic anaemia
Red cell membrane- hereditary spherocytosis
Enzyme deficiency- G6PD deficiency
Haemoglobinopathy
Acquired causes of haemolytic anaemia
Autoimmune
Drugs
MAHA
Infection
What is ALP in myeloma
Normal- as plasma cell suppress osteoblasts
What is telengiecstasia
Condition which widened venules cause threadlike red lines or patterns on the skin
What is inheritance of hereditary telengiecstasia
Autosomal dominant
Where do telengiecstasia occur
Skin Mucous membranes Lungs Liver Brain
What would most likely cause of microcytic anaemia in patient with high platelets
Slow GI bleed
What must you check if patient presents with microcytic anaemia
Platelets to see if evidence of bleeding
What does normal RDW suggest
There is a homgenous population of RBCs
What does a high RDW suggest
Aniscocytosis of RBCs
What causes pernicious anaemia
Malabsorption of B12 caused by failure to produce intrinsic factor
Blood finding of pernicious anaemia
Macrocytosis
What happens to neutrophils in pernicious anaemia
Hypersegmented
How to distinguish anaemia of chronic disease from a mixed picture of B12 and Iron deficiency
RDW is normal in ACD but wide in mixed picture
What happens in general malabsorption normally to MCV
Is normal as mixture of B12 and iron deficiency however RDW will be skewed as cells all different sizes
What would WCC be in a normal infection
Maybe 11-12
What would WCC be in pneumonia
15
What would WCC be in sepsis
15-25/30 depending on severity
What happens to WCC in malaria
Low/normal
Blood findings of malaria
Low/normal WCC
Anaemic
Platelet low
How would an immediate transfusion reaction present
Fever Rigor Hypotenisve Tachy Chest pain Dark urine
What would present acutely with rigor, fever, hypotenisve, tachy, chest pain and dark urine
Immmediate transfusion reaction
What can cause microcytic anaemia
IDA
Beta thalassaemia heterozygosity
What can cause IDA
Bleed in GI tract
Diet
What could ferritin be in normocytic anaemia
Normal or high
What causes normocytic anaemia
Chronic disease such as rheumatoid
When would you suspect beta thalassaemia heterozygosity
Normal healthy person who presents with very low MCV
Causes of macrocytic anaemia
Alcohol Myelodysplaisa Hypothyroid Liver disease Fotale/B12 deficiency
Pnemoninc for causes of macrocytic anaemia
Alcoholics may have liver failure
Clues for alcoholic macrocytosis
History
Raised GGT
Clues for myelodysplasia macrocytosis
Pancytopenia
Clues for hypothyroidism macrocytosis
Hx
Low T4 High TSH
Clues for liver diseases macrocytosis
Hx
Exam
Clues for folate deficiency macrocytosis
Hx small bowel disease or gastrectomy
What is pancytopenia
Low platelets, WCC and RBC
Presentation of polycythaemia
Pruritus after hot bath Thromboses Gangrene Headache Choreiform movements Blurred vision tinnitus
What presents with Pruritus after hot bath Thromboses Gangrene Headache Choreiform movements Blurred vision tinnitus
Polycythaemia
Management of SCD painful crises
Analgesia
Oxygen
IV fluids
Abx
Management of stroke SCD
Blood transfusion
Why does SCD lead to gall stone and chronic cholecystitis
Chronic haemolysis
Pnemonic for multiple myeloma
CRAB Calcium Renal failure Anaemia Bone
Calcium presentation of multiple myeloma
Hypercalcaemia- polyuria, polydipsia and constipation
Renal presentation of multiple myeloma
Urea and creatinine elevated
Anaemia presentation of multiple myeloma
Breathlessness
Lethary
FBC
Bone presentation of multiple myeloma
Bone pain
Osteoporosis- fracture
Fractures seen in osteoporosis
Neck of femur
Wrist- colles fracture
Vertebral
What are some acute presentations of multiple myeloma
Infection
Cord compression
What causes anaemia with high reticulocytes
Myelodysplasia
Haemolytic crises
Haemorrhages
What causes anaemia with low reticulocyte count
Blood transfusion
Parvovirus B19 infection
Aplastic crises in SCD
What are patients with low reticulocytes normally presenting with
Aplastic crisis where not producing enough RBCs
What drug can cause macrocytosis
Azathioprine
How does where GI bleed is affect type of anaemia
Location- eg distal ileum affects B12 absorption
Microcytic anaemia causes
IDA
Thalassaemia
ACD
Normocytic anaemia causes
Acute bleed
Aplastic anaemia
Mixed anaemia from crohns
Investigations for microcytic anaemia
Haematinics
Hb electrophoresis
Investigations for macrocytic anaemia
B12
Folate
DAT test
Diseases that can cause B12 deficiency
Pernicious anaemia
Crohns
How can haematological malignancies be split up
Lymphoma
Leukaemia
Other
What comes under other in haem malignancies
Myeloma
Myelofibrosis
Myelodysplasia
Polycythaemia vera
How are leukaemias split up
Lymphoid
Myeloid
Are either acute or chronic
How are lymphomas split up
Hodgkins
Non-hodgkins
Similarities between lymphoma and leukaemia
Abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes
What is difference between lymphoma and leukaemia
The location of abnormalities
Location of leukaemia is in blood but lymphoma in the lymph nodes
Differences between acute and chronic leukaemia in terms of differentiation
Abnormal differentiation in acute but normal in chronic therefore mature cells present in chronic but immature in acute
Pathophysiology of hodgkins lymphoma
B cell abnormally differentiates within the lymph node leading to neoplasm with exact mechanism unclear but is assocaition with HIV and EBV virus infections
What are cells present in hodgkins lymphoma
Hodgkins cells- large undifferentiated B cells
Reed steenberg cells- multinucleated plasma cells joined together
Can hodgkins cells or reed steenberg cells produce ABs
No they are “crippled”
What happens in non-hodgkins lymphoma
Neoplasm of B or T cells that grow in nodes but DONT have reed steenberg cells
What is most common lymphoma
Non-hodgkins
Differences between non hodgkins and hodgkins lymphoma
H tends to just affect local nodes within tits group whereas non affects multiple groups and also other organs
H contains reed steenberg cells
Non lymph node effects of non-hodgkins lymphoma
Mets anywhere
Spinal chord compression
Bone marrow suppression as crowds out other cells there
What is myeloma
Cancer of plasma cells producing excessive monoclonal Igs
Investigations for myeloma
ESR Calcium U&E Renal Elctrophoresis
Protein electrophoresis findings in myeloma
Normally would see polyclonal bands however in myeloma will see one large monoclonal band
Presentation of non-hodgkins lymphoma
Painless lymphadenopathy
B symptoms
Pruritus
Obs findings of anaemia
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
What is angular cheilitis
Reddening of angles of mouth
Where do you see angular cheilitis in
IDA
Categories for IDA causes and examples of each
Increased loss- peptic ulcer, cancer, menstruation, IBD
Reduced uptake- coeliac, diet, IBD
Increased need- pregnancy, breastfeeding
To restore iron levels what are best foods to eat
Meats as plant based iron harder to absorb
What is most common cause of IDA worldwide
Parasitic infection of ascariasis or schistosomiasis
How does chronic disease lead to anaemia
Leads to release of cytokines that means hepcidin is upregulated
When hepcidin is upregulated what does this do
Reduced uptake via ferroportin
Increased storage in ferritin
Reduced transport via transferrin
Why is ferritin an acute phase protein
Logic is that in an infection the bacteria will want to use iron stores so body protects its store
How to differentiate between IDA and ACD
TIBC/ transferrin will be reduced in ACD but elevated in IDA
Ferritin will be low in IDA but elevated in ACD or normal
What is TIBC the same as
Transferrin
What type of anaemia is ACD
Microcytic or normo
Out of beta and alpha thalassaemia which is rarer
Alpha