Haematology Flashcards
Where are blood cells made and developed?
Bone marrow-> mostly in pelvis, ribs, sternum and vertebrae
What are pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells?
- Undifferentiated cells
- Can transform to myeloid stem cells, lymphoid stem cells and dentritic cells
How are RBCs developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> reticulocytes-> RBCs
How are platelets developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> magakarocytes-> platelets
How are macrophages developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> promyelocytes-> monocytes-> macrophages
How are neutrophils developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> promyelocytes-> neutrophils
How are eosinophils developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> promyelocytes-> Eosinophils
How are basophils developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> promyelocytes-> basophils
How are mast cells developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> myeloid stem cells-> promyelocytes-> mast cells
How are plasma and memory B cells developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> lymphoid stem cells-> lymphocytes-> B cells (mature in bone marrow)-> plasma + memory B cells
How are CD4 (helper), CD8 (cytotoxic) and natural killer T-cells developed?
Pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells-> lymphoid stem cells-> lymphocytes-> T cells (mature in thymus)-> CD4 (helper) + CD8 (cytotoxic) + natural killer
What are the different types of B cells?
- Plasma cells
- Memory B cells
What are the different types of T-cells?
- CD4 (helper)
- CD8 (cytotoxic)
- Natural killer T cells
What do blood films show?
Shape, size and contents of blood cells
What is anisocytosis on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Variation in RBC size
- Myelodysplastic syndrome + some anaemias
What are target cells on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Central pigmented RBCs
- Iron deficiency anaemia + post-splenectomy
What are Heinz-bodies on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Blobs in RBCs due to denatured globin
- G6PD + alpha-thalassaemia
What are Howell-Jolly bodies on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Blobs of DNA in RBCs
- Post-splenectomy + in severe anaemia
What are reticulocytes on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Immature + large RBCs containing RNA, look mesh-like
- > 1% is abnormal
- Indicates rapid turnover
- Eg haemolytic anaemia
What are schistocytes on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Fragments of RBCs from trauma
- Haemolytic uraemic syndrome, DIC, TTP, metallic heart valves, haemolytic anaemia
What are sideroblasts on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Immature RBCs + iron-> when unable to incorporate iron into Hb
- Myelodysplastic syndrome
What are smudge cells on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Ruptured + fragile WBCs
- CLL
What are spherocytes on a blood film and what might it indicate?
- Spherical RBCs
- AI haemolytic anaemia or hereditary spherocytosis
What is the definition of anaemia?
Low levels of Hb due to underlying disease
What is the normal range of Hb for women?
120-165g/L
What is the normal range of Hb for men?
130-180g/L
What is the normal range of MCV?
80-100fl
What can cause microcytic anaemia?
TAILS-> thalassaemia, anaemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency, lead poisoning, sideroblastic
What can cause normocytic anaemia?
3A’s + 2H’s-> acute blood loss, anaemia of chronic disease, aplastic, haemolytic, hypothyroid
What can cause macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia?
Impaired DNA synthesis (not divide normally), B12/folate deficiency
What can cause macrocytic normoblastic anaemia?
Alcohol, reticulocytosis (haemolytic, blood loss etc), hypothyroid, liver disease, azathioprine
What are the symptoms of anaemia (in general)?
Tired, SOB, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, worsening of angina/HF/PVD
What are the symptoms of iron-deficiency anaemia
Tired, SOB, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, worsening of angina/HF/PVD, pica, hair loss
What are the signs of anaemia (in general)?
Pale, conjunctival pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea
What are the signs of anaemia (iron deficiency)?
Pale, conjunctival pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea, koilonychia, angular chelitis, atophic glossitis
What are the signs of anaemia (haemolytic)?
Pale, conjunctival pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea, jaundice
What are the signs of anaemia (due to thalassaemia)?
Pale, conjunctival pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea, bone deformity
What are the signs of anaemia (due to CKD)?
Pale, conjunctival pallor, tachycardia, tachypnoea, oedema, HTN, excoriations on skin
How migth anaemia be investigated?
- Bloods-> Hb, MCV, B12, folate, ferritin, blood film
- OGD + colonoscopy-> if unexplained (urgent GI cancer referral)
- Bone marrow biopsy-> if cause unclear
What are the causes of iron deficiency anaemia?
- Diet-> common in kids
- Pregnancy-> requirements increased
- Loss-> bleed eg GI cancer, oesophagitis, menstruation/menorrhagia, gastritis, IBD
- Inadequate absorption-> inflammatory, coeliac, IBD, PPIs
How is iron absorbed?
- Mainly duodenum and jejunum
- Stomach acids keeps soluble in form of ferrous Fe2+
- Stomach acid drops-> insoluble ferric Fe3+
How can PPis affect iron absorption?
- Mainly duodenum and jejunum
- Stomach acids keeps soluble in form of ferrous Fe2+-> absorbed
- Stomach acid drops due to PPI-> insoluble ferric Fe3+
What is transferrin?
Carrier protein-> carries Fe3+ in blood
What is total iron binding capacity?
- Blood test related to amount of transferrin in blood
- Measures space on transferrin for iron binding
How is transferrin saturation measured?
- Serum iron / total iron binding capacity
- Good indicator of total iron
- Less iron = less saturated eg deficiency
- High-> overload
- Better after fasting
What is ferritin and what can measuring it help with?
- Protein in the blood that stores iron
- High-> can indicate inflammation
- Low-> iron deficiency
- Normal-> may still have deficiency
When does serum iron normally increase?
- In the morning
- After food
What does a raised total iron binding capacity mean?
- Iron overload
- iron supplements
- Acute liver damage
What does a decreased total iron binding capacity mean?
Iron deficiency
What is a normal serum ferritin level?
41-400ug/L
What is a normal serum iron level?
12-30umol/L
What is a normal total iron binding capacity level?
45-80umol/L
What is a normal transferrin saturaton?
15-50%
How is iron deficiency anaemia managed?
- Investigate when no clear cause-> OGD + colonoscopy
- Blood transfusion to correct anaemia
- Iron infusion (eg cosmofer)-> avoid in sepsis as feeds bacteria
What is pernicious anaemia?
- A cause of B12 deficiency anaemia
- Autoimmune attack of stomach’s parietal cells-> stop production of intrinsic factor protein (used for vitB12 absorption)-> lack of absorption
What are the symptoms of pernicious anaemia?
Peripheral neuropathy, loss of vibration/proprioception, vision, mood/cognition problems
What is important to test for in someone presenting with pins + needles?
B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia
What investigations are done for pernicious anaemia?
- Intrinsic factor auto-antibody
- Gastric parietal cell antibody
How is pernicious anaemia managed?
- Cyanocobalamin-> B12 oral replacement
- Hydroxycobalamin-> IM B12, eg 3x weekly for 2 weeks then every 3 months
- Should treat B12 deficiency before folate if present-> risk of subacute degeneration of spinal cord
Why is it important to correct B12 deficiency before folate deficiency if both are present?
risk of subacute degeneration of spinal cord
What is haemolytic anaemia?
Destruction of RBCs (haemolysis) leading to anaemia
What are the inherited causes of haemolytic anaemia?
RBCs more fragile + break down faster
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Hereditary eppiltocytosis
- Thalassaemia
- Sickle cell
- G6PD deficiency
What are the acquired causes of haemolytic anaemia?
Increased breakdown of RBCs
- AI haemolytic anaemia
- Alloimmune-> transfusion, of newborn
- Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Microangiopathic
- Prosthetic valve related
What are the features of haemolytic anaemia?
- Splenomegaly-> full of destroyed RBCs
- Jaundice-> bilirubin released when RBCs die
What are the investigations for haemolytic anaemia?
- FBC-> normocytic anaemia
- Blood film-> schistocytes
- Direct Coombs test-> +ve in autoimmune
When will a Direct Coomb’s test be positive?
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
What is hereditary spherocytosis?
- Autosomal dominant
- RBCs spherical + break down easily when pass through spleen
How does hereditary spherocytosis present?
Jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly, aplastic crisis (triggered by parvovirus)
How is hereditary spherocytosis investigated?
- Clinical + family history
- Blood film-> spherocytes
- Raised reticulocytes-> rapid turnover
- High MCHC
How is hereditary spherocytosis managed?
- Folate supplement
- Splenectomy
- May need cholecystectomy
What is hereditary elliptocytosis?
- Autosomal dominant
- RBCs elliptical + break down easily when pass through spleen
How does hereditary elliptocytosis present?
Jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly, aplastic crisis (triggered by parvovirus)
How is hereditary elliptocytosis managed?
- Folate supplement
- Splenectomy
- May need cholecystectomy
What is G6PD deficiency?
- X-linked recessive condition
- Defect in enzyme in RBCs
- More common in Mediterranean and African population
How does G6PD deficiency present?
- Neonatal jaundice
- Gallstones
- Anaemia
- Splenomegaly
How is G6PD deficiency diagnosed?
- Blood film-> Heinz bodies
- G6PD enzyme assay
What might trigger symptoms in G6PD deficiency?
Infections, medications, fava/broad beans, primaquine, ciprofloxacin, sulfasalazine, sulphonylureas
What is warm type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
- More common type
- Antibodies against RBCs lead to destruction
- Haemolysis at normal/high temps
- Idiopathic
What is cold type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
- Antibodies and RBCs attach together (agglutination) in cold temps-> get destroyed in spleen
- Often secondary to lymphoma, leukaemia, SLE or infection (HIV, EBV, CMV etc)
How is autoimmune haemolytic anaemia managed?
Transfusions, prednisolone, rituximab (against B cells), splenectomy
What is alloimmune haemolytic anaemia?
- Foreign RBCs in blood cause immune reaction + destruction
- Or-> foreign antibodies in blood act against own RBCs
What is haemolytic transfusion reaction?
- Antibodies produced to antigens after transfusion
- Type of alloimmune haemolytic anaemia
What is haemolytic disease of the newborn?
- Antibodies from mother to foetus via placenta
- Type of alloimmune haemolytic anaemia
What is paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobulinaemia?
- Rare genetic mutation that happens during lifetime
- Loss of proteins on RBC-> activates complement cascade against RBCs-> destroyed
How does paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobulinaemia present?
- Red urine in morning
- Anaemia
- Thrombosis (VTE)
- Smooth muscle dystonia eg erectile dysfunction
How is paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobulinaemia managed?
- Eculizumab
- Bone marrow transplant
What is microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA)?
Structural abnormalities of small BVs cause haemolysis of RBCs when pass through
What causes microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA)?
- HUS
- DIC
- TTP
- SLE
- Cancer
What causes prosthetic valve haemolysis?
Turbulence around valve + collision of RBCs-> churned up + broken
How is prosthetic valve haemolysis managed?
Monitoring, oral iron, transfusion if severe, revision surgery if needed
What is thalassaemia?
- Autosomal recessive
- Genetic defect in protein chains that make up Hb
- Can be alpha or beta
What is the pathophysiology of the signs ofthalassaemia?
- Genetic defect in protein chains making up Hb
- RBCs more fragile + break down-> spleen collects destroyed RBCs-> splenomegaly
- Bone marrow expands to produce more RBCs-> fractures, pronounced forehead + malar eminences (cheekbones)
What are the signs and symptoms of thalassaemia??
Microcytic anaemia, fatigue, pallor, jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly, poor growth + development, forehead + cheekbone prominence
How is thalassaemia diagnosed?
- FBC-> microcytic anaemia
- Hb electrophoresis-> globin abnormalities
- DNA testing
- Screened for in pregnancy
What causes iron overload in thalassaemia?
Faulty RBCs-> recurrent transfusions-> increased absorption in response to anaemia
What are the symptoms of iron overload in thalassaemia?
Fatigue, cirrhosis, infertility, impotence, HF, arthritis, DM, osteoporosis
How is iron overload in thalassaemia managed?
- Limit transfusions
- Iron chelation
What causes alpha-thalassaemia?
- Gene on chromosome 16
- Defect in alpha-chains of Hb
How is alpha-thalassaemia managed?
- Monitor FBC + complications
- transfusions
- Splenectomy
- Bone marrow transplant
What is beta-thalassaemia?
- Defect in beta-chains of Hb
- Chromosome 11
What are the types of beta-thalassaemia?
- thalassaemia minor
- thalassaemia intermedia
- thalassaemia major
What is thalassaemia minor?
- Beta-thalassaemia
- Carrier-> 1 normal + 1 abnormal gene
- Mild microcytic anaemia
What is thalassaemia intermedia?
- Beta-thalassaemia
- 2 abnormal genes-> 2 defective or 1 defective + 1 deletion
- Significant anaemia
- May need transfusions + iron chelation
What is thalassaemia major?
- Beta-thalassaemia
- Homozygous for deletion-> no beta-Hb
How does thalassaemia major present?
- Severe anaemia
- FTT
- Splenomegaly
- Bone deformity
How is thalassaemia major managed?
Transfusions, splenectomy, bone marrow transplant
What is sickle cell anaemia?
Autosomal recessive genetic condition causing crescent shaped RBCs-> fragile + easy destroyed (haemolytic anaemia)
What is the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia?
- Abnormal beta-Hb gene on chromosome 11-> HbS
- 1 copy-> sickle cell trait
- 2 copies-> sickle cell disease
What effect does having sickle cell have on malaria?
- Sickle cell trait (1 HbS)-> reduced severity of malaria
- More likely to survive and pass on genes-> selective advantage
- High proportion of areas with malaria have SCD
How is sickle cell disease diagnosed?
- During pregnancy when high risk of carrier
- Newborn screening heelprick test
What are the complications of sickle cell disease?
Anaemia, infection, stroke, avascular necrosis (eg of hip), pulmonary HTN, priapism, CKD, SC crisis, acute chest syndrome
How is sickle cell disease generally managed?
- Avoid triggers + dehydration
- Up to date on vaccines
- Antibiotic prophylaxis-> penicillin V
- Hydroxycarbamide-> stimulate HbF production (doesn’t sickle)
- Transfusion
- Bone marrow transplant
What is sickle cell crisis?
- Spectrum of mild to life-threatening acute crises
- Spontaneous or triggered by infection, stress, cold, dehydration
How is sickle cell crisis managed?
- Supportive
- Low threshold for admission
- Analgesia-> avoid NSAIDs if renal impairment
- Fluids
What is painful crisis (in sickle cell disease)?
- Vaso-occlusive crisis
- Sickle cells clog capillaries-> distal ischaemia
- Associated with dehydration
What are the symptoms of painful crisis (in sickle cell disease)?
Pain, fever, infection, priapism (may need aspiration)
What is splenic sequestration crisis (in sickle cell disease)?
- RBCs block blood flow in spleen-> pools
- Severe anaemia + hypovolaemic shock
How is splenic sequestration crisis (in sickle cell disease) managed?
- Supportive
- Transfusions
- Splenectomy-> prevention + in recurrent
What is aplastic crisis (in sickle cell disease)?
- Temporary loss of new RBC creation
- Usually due to parvovirus B19
How is aplastic crisis (sickle cell disease) managed?
- Oftens resolves in a week
- Supportive
- Transfusion
What is acute chest syndrome (in sickle cell disease)?
- Medical emergency with high mortality
- Causes-> pneumonia, bronchiolitis, pulmonary vaso-occulsion, fat emboli
How is acute chest syndrome (in sickle cell disease) managed?
Treating underlying cause
- Antibiotics
- Antivirals
- Transfusions
- Incentive spirometry-> encourage breathing
- NIV or intubation
What are the features of acute chest syndrome (in sickle cell disease)?
Fever/respiratory symptoms + new infiltrates on CXR
What is leukaemia?
Cancer of particular line of stem cells in bone marrow causing unregulated cell production
What are the main types of leukaemia?
- Acute myeloid (AML)
- Acute lymphoblastic (ALL)
- Chronic myeloid (CML)
- Chronic lymphocytic (CLL)
What is the pathophysiology of leukaemia?
- Genetic mutation in precursor cells in bone marrow
- Excess production of single type of abnormal WBCs
- Suppresses all cell lines-> pancytopaenia (anaemia, leukopaenia, thrombocytopaenia)
What is a way to remember the ages in which patients get the different types of leukaemia?
ALL CeLLmates have CoMmon Ambitions
- ALL-> <5s and >45
- CLL-> >55s
- CML-> >65s
- AML-> >75s
At what age to patients usually get ALL and what might it be associated with?
- <5 or >45
- Common in Down’s sydrome
At what age to patients usually get CLL?
> 55
At what age to patients usually get CML?
> 65
At what age to patients usually get AML?
> 75
How does leukaemia typically present?
Fatigue, fever, FTT, pallor, petechiae, abnormal bruising + bleeding, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly
What are the differentials of petechiae?
Bleeding under skin due to low platelets
- Leukaemia
- Meningococcal septicaemia
- Vasculitis
- HSP
- ITP
- Non-accidental injury
How is leukaemia investigated?
- Bone marrow biopsy-> main investigation, aspiration/trephine etc
- FBC within 48 hours if suspect
- Immediate admission-> petechiae or hepatosplenomegaly
- Blood film-> abnormal cells + inclusions
- Lactate deydrogenase (LDH)-> raised but not specific
- CXR-> infection, mediastinal LNopathy
- LN biopsy-> assess for involvement + lymphoma
- LP-> CNS involvement
- CT/MRI/PET-> staging
What are the different types of bone marrow biopsy used in leukaemia?
- Aspiration-> liquid sample full of cells
- Trephine-> solid core sample but takes few days to prep
- Biopsy-> from iliac crest with local anaesthetic, can examine straight away
What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
- Malignant change in one of lymphocyte precursor cells
- Usually acute proliferation of B-lymphocytes
- Replaces other cell types in bone marrow
What is the most common cancer in children?
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
What are the associations with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
- Down’s syndrome
- Children
- Blast cells on blood film
- Philadelphia chromosome (more so CML)
What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
- Chronic proliferation of B-cells usually
- Ritcher’s transformation risk-> can become high-grade lymphoma
What are the symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
- 55+ and asymptomatic
- Infection, anaemia, bleeding, weight loss
- May have warm AI haemolytic anaemia
What blood film result is characteristic of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Smear/smudge cells-> aged/fragile WBCs that rupture
What is Ritcher’s transformation?
The transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia to high grade lymphoma
What is chronic myeloid leukaemia associated with?
Philadelphia chromosome-> translocation of t(9:22)
What are the three stages of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
- Chronic
- Accelerated
- Blast
What is the chronic stage of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Lasts 5 years-> asymptomatic + incidental raised WCC
What is the accelerated phase in chronic myeloid leukaemia?
- Abnormal blast cells take up high proportion of blood + BM cells
- More symptoms + immunocompromise
What is the blast phase in chronic myeloid leukaemia?
- High proportion of abnormal cells in blood (>30%)
- Severe
- Pancytopaenia
- Often fatal
What is acute myeloid leukaemia?
- Lots of different types
- Most common leukaemia in adults
- Can be transformation of myeloproliferative disorder (eg polycythaemia rubra vera or myelofibrosis)
What blood film result would you expect in acute myeloid leukaemia?
- High blast cells
- Auer rods in cytoplasm
How is leukaemia managed?
- MDT
- Chemotherapy + steroids
- Radiotherapy
- BM transplant
- Surgery
What are the complications of chemotherapy?
Failure, stunted growth + development, infection, immunodeficiency, neurotoxicity, infertility, secondary malignancy, cardiotoxicity, tumour lysis syndrome
What is tumour lysis syndrome?
- Uric acid released from cells destroyed by chemo
- Forms crystals in interstitial tissue + kidney tubules
- AKI
How is tumour lysis syndrome managed?
- Allopurinol or rasburicase
- K+ and phosphate monitoring and treatment
- Monitor calcium-> high phosphate can have effect
What is lymphoma?
Group of cancers-> cancerous lymphocytes in lymphatic system and nodes causing lymphadenopathy
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Cancerous lymphocyte proliferation
At what age groups is Hodgkin’s lymphoma most common?
Bimodal distribution-> 20 and 75 years peaks
What are the risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
HIV, EBV, AI disease (RA, sarcoidosis), FH
How does Hodgkin’s lymphoma present?
- Enlarged lymph node(s) in neck/axilla/groin
- Rubbery, non-tender, may be painful when drink alcohol
- B symptoms-> fever, weight loss, night sweats
- Non-specific-> itching, cough, SOB, abdominal pain, infection
How is Hodgkin’s lymphoma investigation?
- Biopsy-> LNs
- Reed-Sternberg cells-> abnormal large B cells with multiple nuclei + nucleoli inside, owl appearance
- LDH-> raised (non-specific)
- Other-> CT, MRI, PET for diagnosis + staging
What are Reed Sternberg cells and when might they be found?
- Lymph node biopsy-> abnormal large B cells with multiple nuclei + nucleoli inside, owl appearance
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What staging system is used in Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Ann Arbor-> based on diaphragm
- 1-> 1 region of lymph nodes
- 2-> more than 1 region but same side of diaphragm (above or below)
- 3-> LNs above + below diaphragm
- 4-> widespread (eg lungs + liver)
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma managed?
- Chemotherapy-> risk of leukaemia + infertility
- Radiotherapy-> risk of cancers, tissue damage, infertility
- Usually curative
What is Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
- A group of lymphomas-> cancerous lymphocytes in lymphatic system and nodes causing lymphadenopathy
- Types-> Burkitt’s, MALT, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
What are the different types of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Burkitt’s, MALT, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
What is Burkitt’s lymphoma?
- Type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Associated with EBV, malaria + HIV
What is MALT?
- Type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue
- Around stomach
- Associated with H.pylori
What is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma?
- Type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Rapid-growing painless mass
- Presents in >65’s
What are the risk factors for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
HIV, EBV, H.pylori, Hepatitis B/C, exposure to pesticides, family history, trichloroethylene chemical
How does Non-Hodgkin lymphoma present?
- Enlarged lymph node(s) in neck/axilla/groin
- Rubbery, non-tender, may be painful when drink alcohol
- B symptoms-> fever, weight loss, night sweats
- Non-specific-> itching, cough, SOB, abdominal pain, infection
How are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma differentiated?
- Biopsy results
- Hodgkin-> Reed Sternberg cells
How is non-Hodgkin lymphoma managed?
- Depends on type and staging
- Watchful waiting
- Chemo
- Monoclonal antibodies-> rituximab
- Radiotherapy
- Stem cell transplant
What is myeloma?
Cancer of plasma cells (B-lymphocytes that produce antibodies)-> causes large amount of single antibody type produced
What is multiple myeloma?
-Myeloma-> cancer of plasma cells (B-lymphocytes that produce antibodies)->
causes large amount of single antibody type produced
-Multiple-> affect many areas of body
What is o Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)?
- Excess of one antibody type or components of it without cancer features
- Often incidental finding
What is smouldering myeloma?
- Progression of o Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Higher levels of antibody/components
- Premalignant
What is the pathophysiology of myeloma?
- Genetic mutation causes rapid multiplication of plasma cells
- Excess antibodies produced-> 1 of 5 types (GMADE) but usually IgG-> ‘monoclonal paraprotein’
What is the normal physiology of antibodies?
- Produced by plasma cells (B-lymphocytes) + found in bone marrow
- 2 heavy chains + 2 light chains
- Help immune system fight infection-> target pathogen proteins
What are monoclonal paraproteins?
- Single type of antibodies produced by malignant plasma cells in myeloma
- Ig GMADE
- Usually IgG
What is Bence-Jones protein?
- Subunit of antibodies (light chain)
- In urine of patients with myeloma
Why do patients with myeloma get anaemia?
- Cancerous plasma cells invade bone marrow (infiltration)
- Suppress other blood cells from developing-> anaemia, neutropaenia, thrombocytopaenia
What is the pathophysiology of myeloma bone disease?
- More bone reabsorbed than constructed as cytokine release from plasma + stromal cells
- Increased osteoclast and suppressed osteoblast activity
- Commonly cause patchy (osteolytic) lesions in skull, spine, long bones + ribs
- Pathological fractures-> vertebral + femur
- Hypercalcaemia-> increased reabsorption from bone to blood
- Plasmacytomas-> plasma cell tumours in bone + replace tissue
What is the pathophysiology of myeloma renal disease?
- High Ig’s-> block flow through tubules
- Hypercalcaemia + dehydration-> less function
- Bisphosphonates for bone disease-> harm kidneys
Why do patients’ blood become hyperviscous in myeloma and what problems can this cause?
- More proteins (antibodies, inflammation, fibrinogen)-> more viscous
- Bruising, bleeding, sight loss, purplish palmar erythema, HF
What are the 4 main features of myeloma?
CRAB
- Calcium-> high
- Renal failure
- Anaemia-> normocytic normochromic
- Bone lesions + pain
What are the risk factors for developing myeloma?
Older, male, black, FH, obesity
When should you suspect myeloma?
Patient age 60+ with persistent back/bone pain or unexplained fracture
What are the investigations for myeloma?
- Initial bloods-> FBC (low WBC), calcium (high), ESR (high), plasma viscosity (high)
- Serum protein electrophoresis
- Urine Bence-Jones protein
- Light chain assay
- Bone marrow biopsy
- X-ray-> punched out/lytic lesions, raindrop skull sign
- Other imaging-> whole body MRI, CT, skeletal survey
What is the management of myeloma?
- Usually relapsing remitting course
- MDT
- Chemotherapy (+VTE prophylaxis)
- Stem cell transplant
- For bones-> bisphosphonates, radiotherapy, surgery (eg fractures), cement augmentation
What are the potential complications of myeloma and its treatments?
Infection, pain, renal failure, anaemia, hypercalcaemia, peripheral neuropathy, SCC
What are myeloprofilerative disorders?
Uncontrolled proliferation of single stem cell type + consider as bone marrow cancer
What are the three main types of myeloprofilerative disorder?
- Primary myelofibrosis-> haemopoetic stem cells
- Polycythaemia vera
- Essential thrombocythaemia-> megakaryocytic cell line
What gene mutations cause myeloprofilerative disorders?
JAK2, MPL, CALR
What can myeloprofilerative disorders progress to?
AML
What is the pathophysiology of myelofibrosis?
- Cell line proliferation-> release cytokines especially fibroblast growth factor-> bone fibrosis + replacement with scar tissue-> cell production affected-> anaemia + leucopaenia
- Haematopoesis in liver + spleen-> extramedullary-> hepatosplenomegaly + portal HTN + SCC
- Can be due to any of three causes of myeloprofilerative disorders (primary, PRV, essential thrombocythaemia)
How do myeloprofilerative disorders present?
- Asymptomatic then systemic-> fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, fever
- Anaemia, abdominal pain, ascites/varices, bleeding, thrombosis
How does polycythaemia vera present?
- Asymptomatic then systemic-> fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, fever
- Anaemia, abdominal pain, ascites/varices, bleeding, thrombosis
- Conjunctival plethora (redness), ruddy complextion, splenomegaly
How are myeloprofilerative disorders diagnosed?
- -Bone marrow biopsy-> ‘dry’ aspiration, test of choice
- FBC-> high Hb (PCV), high platelets (thrombocythaemia)
- Myelofibrosis bloods-> anaemia, high WCCs + platelets (primary), low WCCs + plateleys (secondary)
- Blood film-> tear-drop RBCs, poikilocytosis (various RBC sizes), blasts (immature RBCs + WBCs)
- Genetic testing-> JAK2, MPL, CALR
What would you expect to see on a blood film for myeloprofilerative disorders?
- Tear-drop RBCs
- Poikilocytosis (various RBC sizes)
- Blasts (immature RBCs + WBCs)
How is primary myelofibrosis (myeloprofilerative disorder) managed?
- Monitoring (mild)
- Allogenic stem cell transplant
- Chemo
- Supportive
How is polycythaemia vera (myeloprofilerative disorder) managed?
- Venesection-> keep Hb in normal range
- Aspirin-> for thrombus risk
- Chemo
How is essential thrombocythaemia (myeloprofilerative disorder) managed?
- Aspirin for clot reduction
- Chemo
What is myelodysplastic syndrome?
- When myeloid bone marrow cells not mature properly-> unhealthy cells made
- Low cells from myeloid line-> anaemia, neutropaenia, thrombocytopaenia
Who is myelodysplastic syndrome common in?
- Patients age 60+
- Chemo/radiotherapy patients
What is the major risk with myelodysplastic syndrome?
Transformation to AML
How does myelodysplastic syndrome present?
- Often asymptomatic + incidental
- Anaemia-> fatigue, pallor, SOB
- Neutropaenia-> frequent/severe infections
- Thrombocytopaenia-> bleeding, bruising
How is myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosed?
- FBC
- Blood film-> blasts
- Bone marrow aspiration + biopsy
How is myelodysplastic syndrome managed?
- Watchful waiting
- Supportive
- Transfusion in severe anaemia
- Chemo
- Stem cell transplant
What is thrombocytopaenia?
Low platelets due to problem with production or destruction
What are some causes of thrombocytopaenia to do with platelet production?
Sepsis, B12/folic acid deficiency, liver failure (reduced thrombopoetin production in liver), leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome
What are some causes of thrombocytopaenia to do with platelet destruction?
- Alcohol, TTP, heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia, HUS
- Medications-> sodium valproate, MTX, isotretinoin, antihistamines, PPIs
How does thrombocytopaenia present?
- Asymptomatic
- Easy bruising, prolonged bleed time, nosebleeds, blood in urine/stools
- Severe-> intracranial or GI bleeds
What are the differentials for abnormal/prolonged bleeding?
- thrombocytopaenia
- Haemophilia A+B
- Von Willebrand disease
- DIC
What is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)?
Antibodies produced against platelets-> destroyed by immune system
How is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) managed?
- Medical-> prednisolone, IV Igs, rituximab
- Splenectomy
- Monitoring-> platelet count
- Safety netting-> headaches + melaena
- Control BP
- Suppress periods if have them
What is Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?
- Microangiopathy-> clots through small vessel
- Due to low platelets-> bleed under skin
- Can be inherited or autoimmune
What is the treatment for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?
- Plasma exchange
- Steroids
- Rituximab
What is the pathophysiology of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?
- ADAMTS13 protein-> problem
- VWF overactivity-> clots break up RBCS-> haemolytic anaemia
What is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia?
- Antibodies produced against platelets in response to heparin exposure
- Activates clotting + hypercoagulation-> thrombosis
How is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia managed?
- Measure HIT antibodies
- Stop heparin + use alternative anti-coagulation
What is Von Willebrand disease?
- Inherited cause of abnormal bleeding
- Autosomal domnant
- Malfunctioning/absence of VWF glycoprotein
How does Von Willebrand disease present?
- Bleeding gums
- Bruising
- Epistaxis
- Menorrhagia
- Heavy bleed during operation
- Family history
How is Von Willebrand disease managed?
- In response to bleed/major trauma or beore ops
- Desmopressin-> stimulates release
- VWF infusion
- Factor VIII infusion
- Periods-> tranexamic acid, mefanamic acid, norethisterone, COCP, Mirena, hysterectomy
What is haemophilia?
- Inherited severe bleeding disorder-> X linked recessive
- haemophilia A-> factor VIII deficiency
- haemophilia B-> factor IX
What is haemophilia A caused by?
Factor VIII deficiency
What is haemophilia B caused by?
Factor IX deficiency
What does X-linked recessive inheritance mean?
- All X chromosomes need the abnormal gene
- Men only need 1 copy-> 1 X-> nearly always men
- Women can be carriers or affected
What are the symptoms and signs of haemophilia?
- Bleed XS in minor trauma
- Spontaneous haemorrhage risk
- Neonates-> intracranial haemorrhage, haematoma, cord bleeding
- Haemoarthrosis + bleed into muscles-> joint deformity
- GI bleeds, haematuria etc
How is haemophilia diagnosed?
- Bleeding scores
- Coagulation factor assays
- Genetic tests
How is haemophilia managed?
- IV clotting factors-> VIII or IX-> can produce antibodies against
- Desmopressin-> stimulate VWF
- Antifibrinolytics-> tranexamic acid
What causes VTE?
- Secondary to stagnation + hypercoagulable states
- Thrombus (DVT)-> embolise (PE)
Why would someone with atrial septal defect be at higher risk of a stroke?
-Clot pass through left side of heart-> systemic circulation-> brain-> stroke
What are some risk factors for VTE?
Immobility, recent surgery, long haul travel, pregnancy, oestrogen (COCP/HRT), malignancy, polycythaemia, SLE, thrombophilias (eg antiphospholipid syndrome)
What is given for VTE prophylaxis?
- LMWH-> enoxaparin etc
- Apixaban, rivaroxaban etc-> if already taking usually
- Compression stockings
When are anti-embolic compression stockings contraindicated?
Peripheral arterial disease
How does DVT present?
- Unilateral (usually)
- Calf/leg swelling
- Dilated superficial veins
- Tender calf
- Oedema
- Colour change to leg
How is DVT assessed?
- Measure for swelling-> 10cm below tibial tuberosity-> >3cm difference in significant
- Well’s score-> RFs
- D-dimer-> exclude VTE if negative
- Doppler US of leg + repeat in 6-8 days if negative but +ve D-dimer and Well’s
When might a D-dimer be raised?
- VTE
- Pneumonia
- Malignancy
- Heart failure
- Surgery
- Pregnancy
When should a Doppler US for DVT be repeated?
- If first scan is negative but D-dimer and Wells are positive
- Repeat in 6-8 days
How is PE diagnosed?
- Well’s score-> RFs
- D-dimer-> exclude VTE if negative
- CTPA
- V/Q perfusion scan-> eg severe kidney impairment or contrast allergy
How is DVT/PE managed?
- Apixaban or rivaroxaban immediately when suspected
- Catheter directed thrombolysis-> symptomatic iliofemoral DVT + symptoms <14 days ie direct to clot
- IVC filter
What is the target INR for warfarin treatment in VTE?
2-3
When is warfarin used first-line for VTE treatment?
Anti-phospholipid syndrome
What is the first line anticoagulant in pregnancy?
LMWH
How long should VTE treatment (anticoagulation) be continued for in VTE (with a reversible cause)?
3 months then review
How long should VTE treatment (anticoagulation) be continued for in VTE (unprovoked/unclear cause, recurrent etc)
Usually 6 months then review
How long should VTE treatment (anticoagulation) be continued for in VTE (in active cancer)?
Usually 6 months
What is an IVC filter and when are they used?
- Into IVC-> filter blood + catch clots going towards heart/lungs (sieve)
- Recurrent PEs or unsuitable for anticoagulation
How might unprovoked DVT be investigated?
- Review-> history, bloods, exam for cancer
- Test for-> antiphospholipid syndrome, hereditary thrombophilias (eg when 1st degree relatives)
What is Budd-Chiari syndrome?
- Thrombosis develops in hepatic vein + blocks outflow
- Associated with hypercoagulable states
- Causes acute hepatitis
How does Budd-Chiari syndrome present?
Abdominal pain + hepatomegaly + ascites
How is Budd-Chiari syndrome managed?
- Anticoagulation
- Investigate underlying cause
- Treat hepatitis