Haematological Disease Flashcards
What are the three main functions of the blood?
- Transport nutrients
- Removal of waste
- Transport host defences
What is the function of red blood cells?
Carrying oxygen in bloodstream
What are the two main plasma proteins?
- albumin
- globulin
What is meant by, FBC?
Full blood count
What is meant by, RBC?
Red blood cells
What is meant by, RCC?
Red cell counts
What is meant by, WCC?
White cell count
What is meant by, PLT?
Platelets
What is meant by, HCT?
Haematocrit
What is meant by, MCV?
Mean cell volume
What condition is characterised by low levels of Hb in the blood?
Anaemia
What condition is characterised by low WCC?
Leukopenia
What condition is characterised by low platelets?
Thrombocytopenia
What condition is characterised by all cell counts being reduced?
Pancytopenia
If there are multiple low levels of cell counts what does this suggest?
Bone marrow failure
What condition is characterised by raised Hb count in the blood?
Polycytheamia
What condition is characterised by raised WCC in blood?
Leukocytosis
What condition is characterised by raised platelets in blood?
Thrombocythaemia
What are the two cancers of the blood?
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
What blood malignancy is described:
Neoplastic proliferation of white cells, usually disseminated.
Leukaemia
What blood malignancy is described:
Neoplastic proliferation of white cells, usually a solid tumour.
Lymphoma
Name 4 chronic malignancies that stem from a lymphoid lineage?
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
Name an acute malignancy of lymphoid lineage?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Name an acute malignancy of myeloid lineage?
Acute myeloid leukaemia
Name two chronic malignancies of myeloid lineage?
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia
- Myeloproliferative disorders
What is porphyria?
An abnormality of haem metabolism
Why is acute intermittent porphyria important for dentists to be aware of?
Acute attacks can be triggered by medicines including LA.
What is the main symptom of an acute porphyria episode?
Severe abdominal pain
What are the clinical side effects of porphyria?
- photosensitive rash
- Neuropsychiatric disturbances (motor and sensory changes, seizures)
- hypertension and tachycardia
What are the two causes of haemoglobin reduction in the blood?
- Inability to make Haem (usually an iron deficiency)
- Inability to make the correct globin chains (e.g. thalasseamia, or sickle cell)
What factor is the greatest indicator as to the cause of anaemia?
The size of the red blood cells (MCV)
What is meant by haematinics? Give three examples.
Things used to make red blood cells.
Examples: iron, vitamin B12, folic acid (folate).
Give three examples of sources of iron?
- meat
- green leafy vegetable
- iron tablets
What does achlorhydria mean?
Absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric secretions (lack of stomach acid)
What drugs can induce achlorhydria?
Proton Pump Inhibitors
What food group is high in vitamin B12?
Meat and dairy products
What are 3 reasons as to why vitamin B12 absorption may be reduced?
- Problems with production of intrinsic factor in the stomach
- Problem with dietary B12
- Disease of the terminal ileum (such as Crohn’s disease)
What individuals are most likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency due to lack of dietary intake?
Strict vegans
Gives two examples where lack of intrinsic factor causes vitamin B12 deficiency?
- autoimmune stomach disease (pernicious anaemia)
- gastric disease
Give an example of when absorption failure results in folic acid deficiency?
- jejunal disease (coeliac disease)
What can be the consequnece of folic acid deficiency in a mum, for a foetus?
Neural tube defects (such as spinobifida)
What are the two main diseases considered where abnormal globin chains cause anaemia?
- Thalassimia
- Sickle cell disease
At the very early stages of pregnancy, where is haemoglobin managed and formed?
Liver and spleen
What disease is described?
Where little to no haemoglobin is produced and there is genetic mutation of globin chains.
Thalassaemia
What are the two different types of Thalassaemia?
- Alpha chains
- Beta chains
What are the 5 clinical effects of Thalassaemia?
- Chronic anaemia
- Marrow hyperplasia
- Splenomegaly
- Cirrhosis
- gallstones
What is the management of Thalassaemia?
Blood transfusions and prevention of iron overload
What disease is characterised by abnormal globin chains that change the shape of RBC in low oxygen environements?
Sickle cell anaemia
What can be the consequence of change in shape of red blood cells in low oxygen environments (sickle cell anaemia)?
Red blood cells cannot pass through capillaries so blocking circulation and causing tissue ischaemia. This can lead to pain and necrosis of the tissue.
Guide two examples of haemoglobinopathies?
- Thalassaemia
- Sickle cell anaemia
What does a raised blood cell volume indicate?
Deficiencies in B12 or folic acid
What is a small shaped red blood cells usually indicative of?
- Iron deficiency
OR - Thalasseamia
What will tell us if anaemia is associated with normal or reduced number of RBC’s?
Red cell count
What is usually the cause of anaemia, when there are normal red cells?
Chronic GI bleeding
What is the usual cause of anaemia, presenting with abnormal red cells?
- autoimmune
- hereditary (e.g. sickle cell)
In what anaemic conditions would MCV of RBC be microcytic?
- iron deficiency
- thalasseamia
In what anaemic conditions would MCV of RBC be macrocytic?
- B12 deficiency
- folate deficiency
What term is used to describe red blood cells that appear pale under the microscope, due to there being less Hb in the cells?
Hypochromic
What term is used to describe red blood cells that vary in size, some very big cells and some very small cells in the same sample?
Ansiocytic
What cell type if released early into the circulation to replace losses of red blood cells in anaemia?
Reticulocytes
What are the signs of anaemia?
- pale
- tachycardia
What are the symptoms of anaemia?
- tired and weak
- dizzy
- shortness of breath
- palpitations
What can be an oral sign of iron deficiency?
Smooth tongue (glossitis) and angular chelitis
What can be an oral sign of vitamin B12 deficiency?
‘Beefy’ tongue
What is another term for hidden bleeding?
Occult bleeding
What investigations are required for anaemia due to GI blood loss?
- faecal occult blood
- endoscopy
What is the replacement treatmnet for iron deficiency?
200mg FeSO4 3x daily for 3 months
What is the replacement treatmnet for B12 deficiency?
1mg IM vit B12 x6
What is the replacement treatmnet for folate deficiency?
5mg folic acid daily
What are the three main treatment modalities for anaemia?
- replace haematinics
- transfusions
- erythropoietin
What are common dental symptoms of deficiency states, such as iron deficiency?
- mucosal atrophy
- candidiasis
- recurrent oral ulceration
- sensory changes
What is the normal level of Hb in the blood for males and females?
Males: 14 to 18 g/dl
Females: 12 to 16 g/dl
What is the normal value of RCC in the blood for males and females?
Males 4.0 to 5.9 x1012/L
Females 3.8 to 5.2 x1012/L
What is the normal value of WCC in the blood?
4,500 to 11,000 WBC’s per micro litre (4.5 to 11.0 x10*9/L)
What is the normal value of red cell MCV in the blood?
80-100fl
What is the normal value of platelet count (PLT) in the blood?
150,000-450,000 platelets per micro litre of blood
What ferritin level indicates iron deficiency?
<30 micrograms/L
What is an important cause of anaemia in females?
Menstrual blood loss
name three types of antithrombotic medication and give an example for each.
- Injectable anticoagulation (e.g. heparins)
- Oral anticoagulation (e.g. coumarin, non-coumarin)
- Antiplatelet medication (e.g. aspirin/clopidegril)
What injectable drug allows rapid control of anticoagulation (for example during operations) in hospital base settings?
Unfractionated heparin
What injectable drug is very useful for patients who have a short term issue with hyper-caoguability? (E.g. individuals who have recently recovered from C-section which makes them more prone to coagulation and DVT)
Low molecular weight heparin
Name 5 anticoagulants.
- warfarin
- apixaban
- edoxaban
- rivaroxaban
- dabigatran
Name 4 anti-platelets.
- low dose aspirin
- clopidegrol
- dipyridamole
- ticagrelor
What dental procedures should be undertaken with caution if a patient has a medical condition which may cause them to bleed?
- extractions
- minor oral surgery
- implants
- periodontal surgery
- biopsies
What 5 conditions involve blood clots forming too readily on or in the circulation, and are indications for a patient to be taking anticoagulants?
- Atrial fibrillation
- deep vein thrombosis
- Heart valve disease
- Mechanical heart valves
- Thrombophilia
What anticoagulant is a coumarin?
Warfarin
What anticoagulant is a direct thrombin inhibitor?
Dabigatran
What anticoagulants are factor Xa inhibitors?
- apixaban
- rivaroxaban
- edoxaban
What commonly used anticoagulant is described as a vitamin K antagonist?
Warfarin
What is the action of warfarin?
Inhibits production of vitamin K dependent clotting factors 2,7,9 and 10.
What does INR stand for?
International normalised ratio
What does INR measure?
How long it takes for your blood to clot.
What is a normal INR reading?
2-3
What is a normal INR reading in individuals with a prosthetic valve and who are at higher risk of DVT?
3-4
How often should a patients INR be checked?
Every 4-8 weeks