Haem Flashcards
What is multiple myeloma?
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
Malignancy of plasma cells (mature B lymphocytes)
(second most common leukaemia)
What is the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma?
What is the precursor and how do you tell the difference
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
- Proliferation of plasma cells from same pool (monoclonal)
- These cells normally secrete antibodies (ab count increased)
- Normally IgG
Precursor
- MGUS (monoclonal gamopathy undetermined significance) is the precursor (5% of over 50s)
- often IgG found on routine exam!
- 1% of MGUS patients will get myeloma
- Myleoma is defined when you have >10% plasma cells and END ORGAN DAMAGE
What are the main features myeloma? (5)
MULTIPLE MYELOMA features (CRAB symptoms)
1. Calcium (high) (increased osteoclasts)
• polyuria
• polydipsia
• constipation, N+V
• fatigue and confusion
2. Renal impairment (50%) (light chain AB get stuck)
3. Anemia (90%) (bone marrow infiltration)
4. Bone disease/pain (lytic lesions)
• backache
• pathological fractures
5. Signs of Bone marrow failure
-Low WCC>infection
-Low Hb>anaemia (SOB/pallor)
-Low platelets>bruising/bleeding
What are some other features of myeloma?
Myeloma
Neurological
- parasthesia
- spinal cord compression
- hyperviscosity syndrome due to antibodies (can lead to stroke/siezure/coma)
Non -neuro
- fever
- splenomegally/hepatomegally
- lymphadenopathy
How do you investigate for multiple myeloma? (bedside, bloods, imaging, special)
And what would you find?
Myeloma investigations (look for the antibodies)
Bedside
-Monoclonal detection
• protein/urine electrophoresis> Bence Jones proteins
• SFLC (serum free light chains)
Bloods •Serum electrophoresis • FBC (normocytic normochromic anaemia) • UsEs (↑Urea ↑Creat ↑Ca2+) • Bone profile • LFTs (ALP high in healing fracture • Blood film (Rouleux formation-stacking of RBC) ↑ESR • BETA 2 MICROGLOBIN (prognosis)
Imaging -whole body MRI •lytic lesions •pepper pot skull •vertebral collapse/fractures
Special tests: bone marrow
-aspirate
What is the treatment of myeloma symptoms?
Treatment of myeloma
Chemotherapy followed by autologous transplant if young and not comorbid
MPT (Melphalan + Prednisolone + Thalidomide) or Lenalidomide + low-dose dexamethasone for those unsuitable for transplant
Hypercalceamia
-IV fluids, bisphosphonates
Bones
- exclude SC compression (complication)
- bisphosphonates to help ↓fractures ↓bone pain ↓Ca2+
Renal
-Fluids and follow AKI guidelines
Anemia
-RBC transfusion + EPO
Infections
-Abx (as appropriate) and regular IV Ig infusions if necessary
What is the treatment for myeloma itself? (3 stages)
Myeloma
INDUCTION
•3 drug chemo combo and steroids to induce remission
MAINTANANCE
- on meds until relapse
- autologous stem cell transplant good for longer remission (obliterate their own BM and save stem cells)
RELAPSE
- almost all patients
- continue or change treatment
**Monitor FBC, creat, Ca2+ serum/urine EP every 2-3 months
Complications of myeloma? (4)
What are the treatments?
Complications of myeloma
-hypercalceamia (IV fluids, bisphosphonates)
-SC compression (MRI and 16mg dex)
-hyperviscosity syndrome (plasmapheresis to remove light chains)
•reduced cognition/disturbed vision/bleeding
-AKI (give fluids, dialysis may be required)
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
- who normally gets it?
- why do they get it?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Who
-Always“Little people” (most common malignancy affecting children (peak 2-5 yo)
-If adults get it its an awful prognosis
Why
-both AML and ALL can progress from CML
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
-What are 2 diagnostic investigations? (what would you see)
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
BLOOD FILM
>20% lymphoBLAST cells on bone marrow (if less than 20% it is just mylodysplastic disorder)
TDT staining (positive)
What is the treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia)(ALL)
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
-Imatinib (will relapse)
Who gets Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)?
How do you get it?
AML=”Always Middle age”/Elderly
Who: incidence increases with age
Why: both AML and ALL can progress from CML
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
-What is the diagnostic finding?
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
-Auer rods, Auer rods, Auer rods!
(not always present but diagnostic)
*also see Myeloidblasts
What are the 2 types of AML and how do they present?
- M3
- M5
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)
- M3 (acute PROMYELOCITIC leukaemia)
- medical emergency
- presents with DIC and heamorrage
- t15:17 translocation - M5 (acute monocytic)
- gum infiltration!!
- lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly
What bloods would you expect from AML and ALL?
AML/ALL bloods present with bone marrow failure (↑lymphoid blasts infiltration)
↓Hb, ↓Plt ↓Neut,↑WBC (poor prognosis)
What is the presentation of AML and ALL?
AML/ALL present with rapid onset bone marrow failure:
ANEMIA
-sob/pallor/lethargy
THROMBOCYTOPENIA
-bleeding/bruising
NEUTROPENIA
-recurrent infections
Systemic
- weight loss
- fever
- malaise
- bone pain (BM failure)
- splenomegally (spleen trying to eat all of extra cells)
ALL vs AML?
- who?
- diagnostic?
- involvement?
ALL children, AML older age
ALL >20% lymphoidBLASTS, AML Auer rods
ALL brain involvement, AML gum involvement (mono M3)
Complication of ALL/AML?
How does it present?
Tumour lysis syndrome
- can happen spontaneously or in response to treatment
- can lead to AKI, can cause visual disturbances (contents pools in eyes)
Presentation: N+V, muscle cramps, confusion
What are the blood findings in tumour lysis syndrome?
Tumour lysis syndrome
- HIGH uric acid
- HIGH phosphate
- HIGH potassium
- LOW calcium
What is the treatment of Tumour lysis syndrome?
Treatment of tumour lysis syndrome:
- hydrate
- treat AKI
- Rasburicase to lower uric acid levels
Translocation for AML?
Translocation for CML?
AML: t15:17
CML: t9:22 Philadelphia chromosome
Who gets chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? (CLL)?
How common is it?
- CLL is a disease of the elderly (opposite of ALL)
- CLL is most common leukaemia
What cells are affected in CLL and what is a diagnostic finding?
chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? (CLL)
- Almost always B Lymphocytes (99%)
- SMUDGE/SMEAR cells are diagnostic (crushed little lymphocytes)
What would you see on bloods for CLL?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? (CLL)
- Bloods: ↑lymphocytes (normally Hb/platelets normal)
- Normally an incidental finding, can cause ITP (mild bleeding and GP checkup)
What is the treatment fo chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? (CLL)?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia? (CLL)
- watch and wait (because old and low grade malignancy)
- if younger, could do a BM transplant
Complications of CLL?
Complications of CLL
-Autoimmune heamolysis
-Infections>death
-Richters transformation (transformation to aggressive lymphoma)
(basically like decompensated high grade CLL: B symptoms and swollen lymph nodes)
CLL vs CML on presentation?
CLL= more lymphadenopathy
CML=MASSIVE splenomegaly (abdo pain, can’t eat)
What cells are affected in Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
-Mature myeloid cells-granulocytes (basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils)
Who normally gets CML and what is the genetic translocation?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
-Older pts. 40-60
-Philadelphia chromosome (95%) due to translocation T( 9:22)
(those without chromosome have worse prognosis (cant use TKI drugs)
What can be a complication of CML?
What is the prognosis of CML
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) can cause AML (80%) and ALL (20%)
Poorer prognosis (than CLL) (5-6 years)
What is the treatment for CML?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
TREATMENT IS IMATINIB (BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor)
-Allogenic BM transplant if unsuccessful or for young patients as a curative therapy
What are the symptoms of CLL/CML?
CML/CLL symptoms
- B symptoms (weight loss, night sweats)
- Painless LN (only CLL)
- Hepatosplenomegaly (MASSIVE in CML)
- Neutropenia: recurrent infections
- Anaemia: SOB/pallor/lethargy
- Thrombocytopenia: bleeding/bruising
What is seen on a blood film of CML?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) -Leucocytosis -Basophilia -Eosinophilia -Blasts = indicate accelerated phase Thrombocytosis
What are 3 phases of CML?
Chronic phase (few/no symptoms for months/years) Acclerated phase (increasing symptoms and spleen size) Blast crisis +/- death (presents like acute leukaemia with blasts )
What is DIC?
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- systemic activation of clotting cascade
- leading to consumption of clotting factors and platelets
- micro clots and bleeding
What are some causes of DIC?
STOP Making Trouble
Sepsis / snakebites Trauma Obstetric complications Pancreatitis Malignancy Transfusion
What obstetric complications lead to DIC?
Obstetric complications-DIC
- Amniotic fluid embolism
- Pre-eclampsia
- Placental abruption
- Retained products of conception
What malignancies are associated with DIC?
- Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (rare subtype of AML-M3)
- Pancreatic, ovarian or gastric adenocarcinomas
- NSCLC
How may DIC present?
Bleeding
- Petechia, purpura, ecchymoses
- Oozing from wounds
- Haematuria
- Blood in body cavities eg haemoperitoneum
Thrombosis
- Acute renal failure (oliguria)
- Hepatic dysfunciton (jaundice)
- ARDs (dyspnoea, crackles)
- PE (dyspnoea, chest pain, haemoptysis)
- DVT
- Neurodysfunction (altered mental status, stroke)
- Purpura fulminans (extensive skin necrosis)
- Waterhouse Friderichsen syndrome (adrenal heamorrage)
Describe the course of DIC depending on the cause
Acute eg following trauma / sepsis
Subacutely eg following malignancy
What findings on bloods suggest DIC?
What would you see on blood film?
DIC Bloods -Low platelets -Low fibrinogen (all used up to make fibrin clot) -Low coagulation factors -High D-dimer -High PT and APTT
Blood film
-shistocytes (fibrin strands damage RBCs)
What are some ddx of DIC?
Severe hepatic dysfunction
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura TTP
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia
How can severe hepatic dysfunction be differentiated from DIC?
FVIII assay
Would be low in DIC (all are low)
But NORMAL in chronic liver disease as not only made by hepatic cells (also sinusoidal endothelial cells)
How can thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura be differentiated from DIC?
No consumption coaguloptahy - so normal PT and aPTT in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
In DIC both are prolonged
What is the management of DIC?
DIC management
- MED EMERGENCY, TREAT UNDERLYING CAUSE
- Platelets, FFP (clotting factors), cryoprecipitate (fibrinogen), RBC
All transretinoic acid in promyelocytic leukaemia
What are the indications/purpose of transfusions in DIC?
Platelet concentrate:
- if platelets are <10,000 in an asymptomatic individual, or <50,000 with active bleeding or a surgery planned
FFP to replace clotting factors
- If PT or aPTT >1.5 normal value
Cryoprecipitate if fibrinogen <150mg/dL
Packed RBC
- massive haemorrhage without response to fluids
- or if Hb <70g /L
What are the two types of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation?
Autologous = removal and storage of patients own cells which are retransfused back after high dose chemo
Allogenous = transplant of stem cells from sibling or donor
What are the indications for autologous stem cell transplant?
Multiple myeloma and Lymphoma get AUTOlogous stem cell transplant
What are the advantages and disadvantages of autologous stem cell transplants?
Autologous stem cell transplants
Advantages
-Low risk of graft vs host disease
-Low risk late post transplant infection
Disadvantages
- High risk of early post transplant infection (you’ve taken away their own bone marrow)
- No graft vs tumour effect (when donated cells attack malignant cells)
What are some indications for allogenous stem cell transplantation?
To replace abnormal but non malignant cells in the lymphohamatopoietic system eg:
- Immunodeficiency
- Aplastic anaemia
- Thalassaemia
**exception is leukaemia!
What are some advantages/disadvantages for allogenous stem cell transplantation?
Allogenous stem cell transplantation
Advantages
-Graft vs tumour effect
-Low risk early post transplant infection
Disadvantages
- Risk of graft vs host disease
- Late post transplant infection
- Can cause chromosomal abnormalities in blood / bone marrow due to discrepancy between genotype and phenotype
Which drugs are associated with agranulocytosis?
Clozapine
Carbamazepine
Valproate
Carbimazole + other anti thyroids
What is the classic presentation of Hodjkins lymphoma?
Who gets it?
Hodgkins lymphoma
- rubbery superficial cervical lymph node
- painless and fluctuating
- lymph node painful with alcohol
- 1/3 have B symptoms (fever, weight loss, night sweats)
- YOUNG ADULTS and ELDERLY
What infection is assosiated with Hodjkins?
EBV is associated with Hodjkins
also assosiated with non Hodjkins-Burkitts type
What lymphoma do you get Reed-Sternberg cells
HODJKINS lymphoma you get Reed-Sternberg cells (multi-nucleated giant cells)
What staging system is used for lymphomas?
Ann Arbor staging
- Single lymph node region
- Involvement of 2+ nodal areas on same side of diaphragm
- Involvement of nodes on both sides of diaphragm
- Spread beyond lymph nodes
Each stage has A (no systemic symptoms except pruritis) or B (systemic symptoms present)
What is 1st line investigation for Hodjkins?
What are the findings?
Hodjkins lymphoma
- 1st line investigation is LN excision biopsy
- can see Reed-Sternberg cells or lacunar cells
What blood test results indicate a worse prognosis in Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Worse prognosis
- High ESR
- Low Hb
What is the treatment for Hodjkins lymphoma?
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy (ABVD) – Adrimycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine
What lymphomas does Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include?
All lymphomas without Reed-Sternberg cells
What is the most common type of non hodjkins lymphoma?
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is mot common type of non hodjkins lymphoma
What is the most common area for extranodal disease in Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
GI tract