Haematology Flashcards
What is myeloma?
A blood cancer arising from plasma cells in the bone marrow.
- accumulation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow leading to progressive bone marrow failure
What protein is a myeloma associated with?
Paraprotein
- In myeloma, plasma cells produce a large amount of a single type of antibody, paraprotein, that has no useful function
What complications can myelomas cause?
- kidney failure
- destructive bone disease and hypercalcaemia
(stimulate osteoclasts and inhibits osteoblasts - pathological fracture)
CRAB
What are the key characteristics of a myeloma?
Spikey old CRAB
C - elevated Calcium >0.25mmol/l
R - renal impairment
A - anaemia
B - lytic Bone lesion, osteoporosis
What is the epidemiology of myelomas?
- 2nd MC haematological cancer
- median age at 70 yrs
- survival ranges from a few months to 20 yrs
What are the classifications of myelomas?
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance = no evidence of impairment
- Smouldering myeloma = more than 10% plasma cells in bone marrow, but no related organ impairment (doesn’t have symptoms)
- Symptomatic myeloma = evidence of related organ/tissue impairment
What is systemic AL amyloidosis?
Build up of an abnormal protein (amyloid) in tissues
‘L’ = light chains that form amyloid proteins
(amyloid protein is broken down very slowly by the body and so builds up in tissues/organs, gradually damaging them)
What is the treatment for AL amyloidosis?
Not curative so aims to kill the abnormal plasma cells that produce the amyloid protein and prevent new deposits forming
- high dose therapy
- stem cell transplantation
(go into remission but then will relapse)
How do patients present with amyloidosis?
Presents with
- nephrotic syndrome
- +/- renal impairment (33%), congestive
- cardiomyopathy (20%),
- sensorimotor
- and/or autonomic neuropathy (20%)
- often with GI disturbance
- and hepatomegaly; rarely, bleeding and Raccoon eyes and macroglossia
What are the initial investigations for patients with myelomas?
- FBC
- Serum + urinary electrophoresis
- imaging = whole body MRI
What is serum electrophoresis?
- helps identify presence of abnormal proteins
by looking at charge of molecules
What is the process of measuring the monoclone?
- Electrophoresis - If a discrete additional band seen or bands fuzzy or suppressed, proceed to immunofixation
- Immunofixation repeats the electrophoresis plus identifies monoclones via the addition of specific antibodies. A second immunofixation is sometimes required if a rare band expected eg IgD or IgE; performed at diagnosis and at other key intervals eg relapse
- Densitometry scan performed on 1. or 2. to quantify the monoclone
What are the complications of myeloma bone disease (MBD)?
Cause abnormalities in bone leading to:
- disability = walking impairment, kyphosis, permanent deformity and paralysis
- bone pain
- decreased quality of life
- increased hospital visits
What is the main treatment for myeloma diseases?
Bisphosphonates
e.g. clodronate, zoledronic acid or pamidronate
What secondary treatments are used to treat myelomas?
Bisphosphonate to protect bones
Blood transfusions/EPO injections
Antibiotics as needed
Pain-killers as required
Radiotherapy
Kyphoplasty occasionally indicated (inject cement to improve bone strength)
Psychological suppor
What are the different types of anti-myeloma chemotherapies?
- Monoclonal antibodies – daratumumab (anti CD38)
- Proteasome inhibitors – bortezomib (sc), carfilzomib (iv), ixazomib (po)
- Immunomodulatory drugs – thalidomide and analogues lenalidomide (Revlimid) and pomalidomide
- Corticosteroids – dexamethasone, prednisolone
- Alkylating agents – cyclophosphamide, melphalan
What are the 2 types of stem cell transplantation?
- allogenic = stem cell donation
- autologous = stem cells from your own bone marrow
What is the process of stem cell transplantation?
- Stem cell mobilisation
- stem cell collection
- stem cell transplant
- high-dose melphalan (chemo drug)
What are the 3 things that can be wrong in RBCs to cause haemoglobinopathies?
- membrane
- haemoglobin
- enzymes
What is the structure of foetal haemoglobin?
2 alpha and 2 gamma chains
What is the structure of adult haemoglobin?
2 alpha and 2 beta chains
What is sickle cell disease?
Abnormal Hb
- single point mutation in beta globin gene, HbS
- autosomal recessive
What is the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease?
HbS polymerises when deoxygenated (form rigid sickle shape)
- blocks blood vessels > ischaemia, sequestration
- chronic haemolysis > pulmonary hypertension, leg ulcers etc.
What is the epidemiology of sickle cell disease?
Black Asian prevalence
- sickle cell allele gives increased protection against malaria
What is the effect on HbS carrier?
- healthy
- avoid severe hypoxia (as can then become sickled)
- inheritance risk
What are the investigation tests for sickle cell?
- Sickle solubility test (positive result could also be a carrier)
- Hb separation = capillary/ gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing
- Antenatal: molecular genetics
What are the complications of Sickle cell disease?
- Acute painful crisis (cut off blood supply to organ/tissue)
- stroke
- acute chest syndrome
- sequestration = blood pools in liver/spleen
- gallstones
- priapism = painful prolonged erection
- leg ulcers
- retinal bleed
- cardiac failure
- liver/kidney failure
What is acute chest syndrome?
lung damage (chest infection, post op, covid etc.) -> hypoxia -> HbS polymerisation -> reduced blood flow -> lung damage worsens
How do you prevent sickle cells disease complications?
- supportive = stay warm, vaccinations
- regular blood transfusion
- hydroxycarbamide = increase HbF
- new drugs = crizanlizumab, voxelotor
- donor bone marrow transplant = only curative option
- genetic therapies
Does sickle cell disease affect newborns?
No its only when they try to switch from foetal to adult haemoglobin
What is thalassaemia?
abnormality of alpha or beta global gene in Hb
- autosomal recessive
- carriers = hypothermic, microcytic (blood count may look like Fe deficiency)
- imbalance of alpha and beta is bad
What is the treatment and complications for thalassemia?
transfusion only curative option
- can cause iron overload and chelation
What is lymphoproliferative disease?
- neoplastic, clonal proliferation of lymphoid cells
(cancer of WBCs) - typically affects lymph nodes
- can be extranodal (bone marrow/liver/spleen/anywhere)
What are the types of lymphomas?
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma = aggressive or indolent
What is the difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas?
Hodgkin
- B lymphocytes characterised by the Reed-Sternberg cell
- progresses slower
- progresses in a orderly way from lymph node region to the next
Non-Hodgkin’s
- B or T Lymphocytes or Natural Killer cells
- less predictable in their course
- less likely to have systemic ‘B” symptoms at diagnosis
What is an indolent lymphoma?
- slow growing and advanced at presentation
- generally incurable
- many different sub-types
What cells can cause lymphomas?
- B cells 90% = opened up when differentiating so most likely to have wrong gene inserted
- T cells 10%
- NK-cell (natural killer cell) <1%
What is the aetiology/risk factors of indolent lymphomas?
Mostly cause is unknown
Risk Factors include:
1. Primary Immunodeficiency e.g. Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome; Common Variable Immunodeficiency
2. Secondary Immunodeficiency e.g. HIV; Recipients of Transplant
3. Infection e.g. EBV; HTLV-1; Helicobacter Pylori
4. Autoimmune Disorders (e.g. on LT treatment for rheumatoid arthritis)
What is the B symptom triad for lymphoma diagnosis?
- Fever
- Night sweats
- weight loss
What is the clinical presentation for indolent lymphomas?
Majority of Indolent Lymphomas present with painless lymphadenopathy (lump)
Association with B-Symptoms – Fevers, Night Sweats and Weight Loss
Bone Marrow involvement – ?Leukaemic component
Autoimmune Phenomena
Compression Syndromes
Organ Involvement e.g. Skin = rash
What are the investigations for indolent lymphomas?
- Lymph node biopsy = core needle biopsy/excision node biopsy (can’t do fine needle biopsy as just gets liquid out)
- bone marrow biopsy
- PET-CT scan
- bloods
What is the treatment for indolent lymphomas?
- Watch + Wait = asymptomatic, follow up regularly, no compromise in survival
- Radiotherapy = local control, can be curative for stage 1/2 follicular lymphomas
- Chemoimmunotherapy +/- maintenance
- small molecules inhibitors/ Novel therapies
What are myelodysplastic syndromes?
Bone marrow abnormalities
- bone marrow cells fail to make adequate numbers of healthy blood cells (both quantity + quality)
- abnormal cells crowd out remaining normal cells
What is acute myeloid leukaemia?
heterogenous clonal malignancy characterised by:
- immature myeloid cell proliferation
AND
- bone marrow failure (abnormal cells crowd out normal ones)
What are the laboratory features of MDS?
- low blood counts (of RBCs, WBCs, platelets)
- peripheral blood film demonstrates dysplastic features (e.g. hypogranular neutrophils)
(MDS = don’t have enough healthy blood cells)
What are auer rods?
crystallised aggregates of the myeloperoxidase enzyme
(seen in AML blood film)
What is the symptoms for low RBC count?
- fatigue
- SOB
- Lightheadeness
What are the symptoms for low WBC count?
- increased risk of frequent and/or severe infections
What are the symptoms of low platelet count?
Bleeding/bruising
What are the laboratory features of AML?
- WBC count can be low, normal or high
- RBCs and platelet are usually low
What are some key indications a patient needs to be referred to a haematologist?
- there are blasts on peripheral blood
- deterioration in FBC parameters is very rapid
What investigations are done for MDS and AML diagnosis?
- blood tests = full blood count + blood film
- bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy
- morphology (appearance of cells on slides)
What other conditions can present with dysplasia?
B12/ folate or mixed haematinic deficiency
Infection (e.g. retroviral disease, herpesvirus)
Medications
Autoimmune
Liver disease (e.g. cirrhosis)
What hormone regulates RBC production?
Erythropoietin
What is polycythaemia vera?
a myeloproliferative disorder characterised by neoplasia of mature myeloid cells, in particular those involved in the red cell lineage, within the bone marrow.
What are the 3 requirements for a diagnosis of polycythemia vera?
- Hb >16.5
- Bone marrow tai-lineage proliferation with pleomorphic mature megakaryocytes
- Presence of JAK2 mutation
What is the treatment for polycythaemia?
- aspirin 75mg daily
- Venesection on 2 occasions
- Hydroxycarbamide 500mg daily
- Aim to keep haematocrit <0.45
- annual cardiovascular risk assessment
What investigations should you do for someone with a high platelet count?
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) = rate at which RBCs in anticoagulated whole blood descend in a standardised tube over a period of one hour (measure of inflammation if RBCs settle relatively quickly )
C-reactive protein (CRP) = level of CPR increases when there’s inflammation
What is thrombocytosis?
Excess production of platelets
What would you see on the blood count in a splenectomy?
High WBC
High platelet
High Jolly bodies (RBC with nucleus as no spleen to remove deranged RBCs)
What would you see on the blood count in anaemia?
Pencil cells
small red blood cells
What is JAK2 positive essential thrombocythaemia?
A rare chronic blood cancer characterised by the overproduction of platelets by megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.
High Platelet count
presence of a JAK2 mutation