Haem: Interactive Cases Flashcards
List some general clinical signs of anaemia.
- Pale mucous membranes
- Tachycardia
- Cardiomegaly/CCF
List some specific clinical signs of anaemia.
- Koilonychia
- Glossitis (B12 deficiency - B12 is needed for epithelial cell replacement)
- Jaundice (haemolysis)
List some causes of microcytic anaemia.
- Iron deficiency
- Thalassemia
- Anaemia of chronic disease
List some investigationsthat are used for anaemia.
- FBC
- Blood film
- Reticulocyte count
- Haemoglobin electrophoresis
- Iron studies
List some physiological triggers for reticulocytosis.
- Haemolysis
- Haemorrhage
- Haematinics (agents that stimulate RBC production)
List some conditions in which reticulocytes are absent.
- Inadequate haematinics
- Bone marrow failure
- Acute major haemorrhage (reticulocyte response takes at least 6 hours)
What are the typical haemoglobin electrophoresis findings of thalassemia?
- High HbA2 and HbF
List some blood film features of iron deficiency anaemia.
- Pencil cells
- Anisocytosis
- Poikilocytosis
- Hypochromic
List some causes of pancytopaenia.
- Aplastic anaemia
- Leukaemia
- Infiltration (e.g. lymphoma, carcinoma)
- Drugs (e.g. chemotherapy)
- B12/folate deficiency
List some investigations for pancytopaenia.
- Blood film
- Vitamin B12 and folate
- Bone marrow biopsy
What is a defining feature of myeloid cells?
- Auer rods
- NOTE: the presence of Auer rods means that cytochemistry and immunophenotyping is not necessary
Which type of major infection is classically seen in AML?
Gram-negative septicaemia
What are the principles of management of AML?
- Supportive - red cell and platelet transfusions, isolation
- Chemotherapy
List some causes of thrombocytopaenia.
- Defect in platelet production - drugs, bone marrow disorders (e.g. leukaemia, myelodysplasia)
- Increased platelet destruction - ITP, DIC, heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia
List some investigations for thrombocytopaenia.
- Coagulation screen
- Blood film
- Bone marrow aspirate
- ANA/RAPA/anti-platelet antibodies (check for rheumatoid arthritis, SLE)
- HIV (common cause of isolated platelet destruction worldwide)