Haem2 Flashcards
Cancer and bleeding disorders
What are the two types of haematological stem cells?
Myeloid stem cell
Lymphoid stem cell
What cells do myeloid stem cells differentiate into?
Red blood cells
Platelets
Myeloblasts -> granulocytes
[Granulocytes: eosinophil/basophil/neutrophil]
What cells do lymphoid stem cells differentiate into?
Lymphoblasts -> B cell/T cell/NK cell
B cell -> plasma cell
What are acute leukaemias?
Neoplastic conditions with a rapid onset
Characterised by the presence of immature cells (-blasts) in the blood/marrow
Causes bone marrow failure
What are the complications of bone marrow failure?
Anaemia- fatigue, pallor, breathlessness
Neutropenia- recurrent infections
Thrombocytopenia- bleeding and easy bruising
What is AML?
Unknown cause
Accumulation of myelobast cells (10-19%)
What are the risk factors for AML?
Down’s
Irradiation
Anti-cancer drugs
Age
What are the symptoms of AML?
Features of bone marrow failure:
Fatigue, pallor, breathlessness, recurrent infx, bleeding, bruising
What are the investigations for AML?
Blood film: Auer rods
Immunohistochemistry: myeloblast granules are positive for Sudan Black staining
What is promyelocytic leukaemia?
A subtype of AML
Very aggressive
Due to t(15;17)
Associated with DIC
What is ALL?
Uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoblasts
3/4 are B cell ALLs
What are the clinical features of ALL?
Commonest cancer of childhood (75% are under 6) Features of BM failure Hepatosplenomegaly Enlarged lymph nodes Swollen testes Thymic mass (if T cell ALL)
What are the investigations for ALL?
Bloods: very raised WCC, low Hb, low Plt
Blood film: >20% lymphoblast
What is CLL?
Accumulation of mature incompetent lymphocytes
unable to undergo apoptosis
What are the clinical features of CLL?
Asymptomatic in 50%
Features of BM failure
Lymphadenopathy
Hepatosplenomegaly
What are the investigations for CLL?
Bloods: inc l’cyte, low Hb, low n’phil, low Plt
Blood film: smear/smudge cells
What is Evan’s syndrome?
When CLL is associated with autoimmune thrombocytopenia and anaemia
What is Richter’s syndrome?
When CLL develops into an agressive NHL
What is CML?
Uncontrolled proliferation of granulocyte precursors in the BM but with a slower progression than AML
What is the cause of CML?
Philadelphia chromosome in >80% of Pts
t(9;22) forming BCR-ABL, which forms a continuously active TK receptor -> continuous cell proliferation
What are the clinical features of CML?
50% are asymptomatic
Hypermetabolic symptoms (weight loss, malaise, sweating)
Features of BM failure
Hyperviscosity symptoms (visual disturbance, headaches, thrombotic events)
Gout
Massive splenomegaly in 90%
What are the investigations for CML?
Bloods: WCC ofter >100
Cytogenetics: look for t(9;22)
No XS blasts (<5%)
-can develop into accelerated phase (10-19% blasts)
-can develop into acute leukaemia phase (>20% blasts)
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Malignant proliferation of lymphocytes which accumulate in the lymph nodes
What is the epidemiology of HL?
Bimodal age distribution
20-30s, 50+
50% associated with EBV infx
What are the clinical features of HL?
Painless enlarging mass
Often in the neck, sometimes axilla/groin
Becomes painful upon alcohol ingestion
B symptoms: fever, night sweats, weight loss
Non-tender rubbery lymphadenopathy
Splenomegaly +/- hepatomegaly