Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Phase 2a > Haematology > Flashcards

Haematology Flashcards

1
Q

What is microcytic anaemia?

A

Reduced MCV (<80)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What causes microcytic anaemia?

A

TAILS

Thalassemia/haemoglobinopathies
Anaemia of chronic disease
Iron deficiency anaemia
Lead poisoning 
Sideroblastic anaemia

Hookworm infection (low/middle income countries)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the most common cause of anaemia?

A

Iron deficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What causes iron deficiency anaemia?

A

Low iron intake

Iron loss

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give examples of low iron intake that can cause iron deficiency anaemia.

A

Malabsorption and vegan diet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Give examples of iron loss that can cause iron deficiency anaema.

A

Menorrhagia, GI bleed, hookworm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Where is iron absorbed?

A

Duodenum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How is iron deficiency anaemia treated?

A

Treat cause

Iron supplements - ferrous sulfate/ferrous gluconate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the signs of iron deficiency anaemia?

A 
Pale skin & mucous membranes
Tachycardia
Systolic flow murmur
Brittle hair/nails
Atrophic glossitis
Angular stomatitis
Koilonychia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia?

A 
Fatigue
Lethargy
Dyspnoea
Palpitations
Syncope
Headache
Tinnitus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is normocytic anaemia?

A

Normal MCV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What causes normocytic anaemia?

A 
Anaemia of chronic disease
Acute blood loss
Increased plasma volume (pregnancy, fluid overload)
Haemoglobinopathies
Aplastic anaemia
Haemolysis
Hypersplenism (destruction of RBCs)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is macrocytic anaemia?

A

Increased MCV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What causes macrocytic anaemia?

A 
B12/folate deficiency
Toxins (alcohol, chemo)
Liver disease
Reticulocytosis
Pregnancy
Myeloma
Hypothyroidism
Myelodysplastic syndrome
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What causes folate deficiency?

A

Low intake
Malabsorption
Pregnancy
Drugs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Who is at risk of folate deficiency?

A

Elderly, poverty, alcohol excess

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What drugs can cause folate deficiency?

A

Trimethoprim, phenytoin, methotrexate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How does folate deficiency anaemia present?

A

Same as other anaemias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How do you investigate folate deficiency?

A

FBC
Blood film
Red cell folate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does a blood film show for folate deficiency anaemia?

A

Macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does red cell folate show for folate anaemia?

A

<160ug/ml

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How do you treat folate deficiency anaemia?

A

Treat underlying cause

Folic acid supplement if certain of cause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why should you be cautious of prescribing folic acid supplements for folate deficiency?

A

Can aggravate neuropathy associated with B12 deficiency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What causes pernicious anaemia?

A

Lack of intrinsic factor usually produced by parietal cells in the stomach which allow B12 absorption in the terminal ileum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is the pathology of pernicious anaemia?
B12 and folate needed for DNA synthesis - RBC development arrested - large immature megaloblastic cells
26
How does pernicious anaemia present?
Same as other anaemias + neuropathy, depression and psychosis
27
How do you investigate pernicious anaemia?
FBC Blood film Serum antibodies - IF/parietal cell antibodies Serum B12 <50ng/L
28
How do you manage pernicious anaemia?
B12 IM/PO (hydroxocobalamin)
29
What is sickle cell anaemia?
Inherited mutation of HbS leading to sickling of RBCs
30
What is the epidemiology of sickle cell disease?
More common in Afro-Carribeans
31
How is sickle cell disease inherited?
Autosomal recessive - 50% chance of being a carrier
32
What is the pathology of sickle cell disease?
Mutation of B globin (HbS) Under stress this polymerises RBCs become rigid and sickle shaped Leads to intravascular haemolysis - obstruction of microcirculation - infarction
33
How does sickle cell anaemia present?
``` Anaemia symptoms (lethargy, syncope) Pain in hands and feet Jaundice Acute chest syndrome Dactylitis Stroke Priapism Nocturnal enuresis Thrombosis - ulcers/vascular necrosis ```
34
What are the key presentations of sickle cell anaemia?
Chest crisis Sickle cell crisis Splenic infarction/sequestration (main cause of death in children)
35
What is chest crisis in sickle cell anaemia?
Pulmonary infiltrate/infarct/infection - main cause of death in adults = PHTN/chronic lung disease
36
What is sickle cell crisis?
Acute bone pain
37
How do you investigate sickle cell disease?
FBC Blood film Hb electrophoresis Heel prick test
38
What is the supportive management of sickle cell disease?
Folic acid Analgesia (start with opiates) Abx Fluids
39
What is the disease modifying therapy for sickle cell disease?
Hydroxycarbamide (increase HbF) Transfusion Stem cell transplant
40
What is the hyposplenic treatment for sickle cell disease?
Prophylactic abx | Vaccinations
41
What are complications of sickle cell disease?
Mesenteric ischaemia Renal impairment Pulmonary HTN Joint damage
42
What causes malaria?
``` Protozoa P. falcirum P. vivax P. ovale P. malariae ``` Vector = female mosquito
43
What are the risk factors for malaria?
``` Poor Young Pregnant Elderly Recent travel abroad ```
44
How does malaria present?
``` Fever Chills Rigors Cough Myalgia Splenomegaly Hepatomegaly Jaundice ```
45
How is malaria investigated?
``` Travel history - where, when, stopovers Thick and thin blood film Diagnostic tests for plasmodium antigens Pregnancy test Rule out meningitis ```
46
How is falciparum malaria managed?
Quinine sulfate/IV quinine dihydrochloride
47
How is non-falciparum malaria managed?
Chloroquine
48
How is malaria prevented?
Chemoprophylaxis Nets Long clothes
49
What is polycythaemia?
Increase in Hb, packed cell volume and RBCs
50
What causes primary polycythaemia?
Increased sensitivity to EPO JAK2 mutation EPO receptor gene mutation
51
What causes secondary polycythaemia?
Increased EPO Chronic hypoxia EPO producing tumour High altitude
52
What is the pathology of polycythaemia?
Impaired blood flow due to sludging | Haemostat mechanisms disrupted
53
How does polycythaemia present?
``` Red face Hepatosplenomegaly (PRV only) Easy bleeding/bruising Fatigue Dizziness Headache Sweating Pruritus Thrombosis ```
54
How is polycythaemia investigated?
FBC - raised Hb Secondary polycythaemia - low EPO BM biopsy - hypercellularity Testing for JAK2 gene
55
How do you manage polycythaemia?
``` Venesection (400-500ml removed) Aspirin Treat cause if secondary Hydroxyurea Splenectomy if required Monitor haematocrit ```
56
What are the complications of polycythaemia?
Thrombosis | Can transform into myelofibrosis or AML
57
What do lymphoid stem cells become?
T and B cells
58
What do myeloid stem cells become?
``` Erythrocytes Platelets Mast cells Eosinophils Neutrophils Basophils etc. ```
59
What is leukaemia?
Cancer of blood cells in bone marrow
60
What are the symptoms of leukaemia?
``` Fatigue Night sweats Weight loss Bleeding/bruising Pain or swelling in abdomen ```
61
What are the features of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Rare in children Philadelphia chromosome Blood smear resembles bone marrow aspirate Affects one or all three of erythroid, platelet and myeloid cell lines Chronic > accelerated > blast crisis Tyrosine kinase inhibitors +/- stem cell transplant
62
What are the features of acute myeloid leukaemia?
``` Most common adult leukaemia Exposure to chemo/benzene Gum hypertrophy Auer rods in blast cells Chemo +/- stem cell transplant ```
63
Who does chronic lymphocytic leukaemia typically affect?
Older people
64
What are the symptoms of acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL)?
Bruising, bleeding, fatigue, malaise
65
What is myeloma?
Malignancy of plasma cells
66
What causes myeloma?
Non-malignant > pre-malignant (smouldering) > malignant
67
How does myeloma present?
CRAB Calcium Renal Anaemia Bone
68
How does myeloma present (calcium)?
Hypercalcaemia - confusion
69
How does myeloma present (renal)?
Nephrotic syndrome | Renal failure
70
How does myeloma present (anaemia)?
Thrombocytopoenia - bleeding | Leukopenia - infections
71
How does myeloma present (bone)?
Spinal cord compression | Osteolytic lesions - fractures and bone pain
72
How is myeloma investigated?
FBC (low WBC, RBC, platelets) U+Es (high Ca2+) Serum protein electrophoresis - paraprotein Urine protein electrophoresis - Bence Jones protein X-ray MRI
73
What is the gold standard investigation for myeloma?
Bone marrow biopsy | Immunofixation of serum and urine - paraprotein
74
How is myeloma managed in older patients?
Chemo

Phase 2a (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions