HAEM: CML and MPD (polycythaemia) Flashcards
Define polycythaemia.
- Polycythaemia = raised haemoglobin concentration and raised haematocrit
What is the normal Hb and haematocrit in males and females?
Haemoglobin:
M: 130 – 180 g/L
F: 115 – 165 g/L
Haematocrit:
M: 0.40 – 0.54 L/L
F: 0.37 – 0.47 L/L
What are the 2 types of polycythaemia?
- Relative (lack of plasma)
- True (excess erythrocytes)
What is relative polycythaemia also known as?
Pseudopolycythaemia
What test can be used to distinguish relative from true polycythaemia?
Dilution studies / Fick’s principle:
- RBC mass - 51Cr-RBCs
-
Plasma volume - 131I-Albumin
- Take components out
- Radiolabel them
- Reinfuse and measure dilution
Name 3 causes of relative polycythaemia.
Usually non-malignant e.g.
- alcohol
- obesity
- diuretics
What are the types of true polycythaemia?
- Primary (myeloproliferative neoplasm) -
- Secondary (non-malignant)
Summarise the primary polycythaemia causes.
- All myeloproliferative disorders*
1. Philadelphia chromosome -ve - Polycythaemia vera (PV)
- Essential thrombocythaemia (ET)
- Myelofibrosis
- Piladelphia chromosome +ve
* Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
Which haematopoietic precursor is targeted to cause polycythaemia vera?
BFU-E (=RBC precursor)
What kind of cells are produced in myeloproliferative neoplasms?
Abundance of mature cells (compared to acute leukaemia where cells are immature)
Which myeloid neoplasms do NOT cause polycythaemia?
AML and myelodysplasia
How are secondary polycythaemias classified?
- Appropriately raised EPO
- Inappropriately raised EPO
What are the causes of appropriately raised EPO causing polycythaemia?
- Cyanotic heart disease
- Hypoxic lung disease (COPD)
- High affinity heamoglobin
- High altitude
What are the causes of inappropriately raised EPO causing polycythaemia?
- renal disease
- uterine myoma
- other tumours (liver, lung)
What are the three types of haematological mutations during proliferation?
- Type 1 - disrupt cellular proliferation (mature cells)
- Type 2 - impair cellular differentiation (blasts)
- Anti-apoptosis - prolong cell survival
Name 2 mutation mechanisms in haematological proliferation. How is the Ph translocation BCR ABL1 rearrangement oncogenic?
- DNA point mutations
- Chromosomal translocations –> creation of novel fusion genes OR disruption of proto-oncogenes
BCR ABL1 rearrangement is oncogenic via formation of a novel fusion oncoprotein
What is the normal role of tyrosine kinase?
-
Role of Tyrosine Kinases:
- Transmit cell growth signals from surface receptors to nucleus
- Activated by transferring phosphate groups
- Normally held tightly in inactive state
- Promote cell growth but do NOT block maturation
What happens when tyrosine kinase is mutated?
Mutation of TK gene –> expansion of…
- mature cells of RBCs (polycythaemia),
- platelets (ET) and
- granulocytes (CML)
What is the most common JAK mutation?
JAK mutations:
- JAK2 V617F mutation (most common)
- JAK2 exon 12 mutation
What are the 3 most common MPD associated mutations? Which polycythaemias is each most common in ?
- JAK2
- Calreticulin
- MPL
Describe the sequence of activation of JAK2.
- JAK2 is a TK normally bound to inactive EPO precursor
- Normally, when EPO binds to EPO receptor it causes dimerisation of the receptor, autophosphoryation and phosphorylation of JAK2
- This activated the JAK2 signalling pathway causing a normal response to EPO
- But, in JAK2 mutation this pathway is constitutively active –> EPO response in the absence of EPO
What investigations are done when suspecting a MPD?
- Clinical examination - symptoms and splenomegaly
- FBC +/- BM biopsy
- EPO level
- Mutation testing (phenotype linked to acquired mutation)
What is the condition defined by isolated expansion of RBC (not plt) with JAK2 V617F mutation absence?
Idiopathic erythrocytosis
What is the epidemiology of PV?
- M > F
- Mean age at diagnosis = 60yo (5% <40yo)
What is the clinical presentation of PV?
Blood count: high RBC/ Hb/ plts/ WCC
Incidental
- Symptoms of hyperviscosity (headaches, light-headedness, stroke can be 1st presentation, visual disturbances, fatigue, dyspnoea)
- Symptoms of histamine release (aquagenic pruritus i.e. itching in hot water , peptic ulceration)
What mutation is pesent in PV?
Presence of JAK2 V617F mutation