Haematology

Question 1

What is the final step of the coagulation cascade?

Answer 1

Fibrinogen to fibrin

Question 2

What is the major initiator of coagulation?

Answer 2

Tissue factor

Question 3

What factors are in the extrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade?

Answer 3

III and VII that catalyse 10->10A

Question 4

What factors are in the intrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade?

Answer 4

XII, XI, IX, VIII

Question 5

What factors are in the common pathway of the clotting cascade?

Answer 5

X, II (thrombin), I (fibrin), XIII (fibrin stabilising factor)

Question 6

What mutations give rise to primary myelofibrosis?

Answer 6

JAK2 or MPL mutations

Question 7

What are the characteristics of primary myelofibrosis?

Answer 7

It occurs in individuals over the age of 60, usually with anaemia and splenomegaly. Blasts are observed in the peripheral blood, along with normocytic anaemia. Median survival is 3–5 years, due to increased risk of infection, as well as transformation to AML in around a fifth of cases.

Question 8

What are the causes of microcytic anaemia? (TAILS)

Answer 8

Thalassaemia, anaemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency, lead poisoning, sideroblastic

Question 9

What are the causes of macrocytic anaemia? (FATRBC)

Answer 9

Fetus (pregnancy), alcohol, thyroid (hypothyroidism), reticulocytosis, B12 and folate deficiency, cirrhosis and chronic liver disease