Haematology Flashcards
Causes of Anaemia with MCV<80
TAILS
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Iron deficiency
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic
Causes of Anaemia with MCV: 80-100
ABCD
Acute blood loss
Bone marrow disorders
Chronic disease
Destruction - haemolysis
Causes of Anaemia with MCV>100
RALPH - non megaloblastic
Reticulocytosis - haemolysis
Aplastic anaemia
Liver disease, alcoholism
Pregnancy
Hypothyroidism
B12/Folate deficiency - megaloblastic
What is the predominant haemoglobin in a fetus?
Haemoglobin F
2 alpha chains and 2 gamma chains
(gamma chain production dips from 3-6 months old)
What is the predominant haemoglobin in life?
Haemoglobin A
2 alpha chains and 2 beta chains
(Small amounts of Haemoglobin A2 -> 2 alpha + 2 delta) chains)
(beta chains reach peak levels from 3-6 months old)
What is the need for different haemoglobin in a fetus than an adult?
Foetal haemoglobin has higher oxygen affinity = oxygen flows from maternal to foetal circulation more readily across the placenta
On which chromosomes are alpha and beta chains found?
Alpha - chromosome 16 (twice as many alpha genes - life can not be sustained beyond embryonic stage without alpha chains)
Beta - chromosome 11
What are the 3 manifestations of alpha thalassaemia?
- Thalassaemia trait (carrier - asymptomatic)
- Haemoglobin H disease (3/4 genes deleted, excess beta chains form beta4 tetramers = haemoglobin H = high affinity for oxygen + damage RBC membrane = hypoxia)
- Thalassaemia- Alpha Major (hydrops fetalis)
What is the inheritance of thalassaemia and sickle cell disease?
Autosomal Recessive
What is the consequence of alpha/beta chain precipitants in red blood cells
Higher affinity for oxygen = hypoxia
Precipitate in RBC = haemolysis in bone marrow and spleen
– Stimulates extra-medullary erythropoiesis = enlarged bone marrow and spleen = jaundice, deformities of long bones and facial bones
– Damaged RBC + haemoglobin spill into plasma = increased bilirubin, iron - secondary haemochromatosis
What would you find in haemoglobin electrophoresis in B Thalassaemia trait and major?
Trait: Decreased HbA, Increased HbA2
Major: Absence HbA, Increased HbA2 + HbF
What would you find in haemoglobin electrophoresis in Alpha Thalassaemia trait and disease?
Trait: unable to pick up and decreased of all types so ratio is technically the same.
Disease: Presence of HbH
How does chronic disease cause anaemia?
- Decreased RBC lifespan - direct cellular destruction via toxins from cancer cells, infections, inflammation
- Decreased RBC production- impaired iron metabolism and regulation due to cytokines and ILs.
- TNF-alpha + IFN-Y = Inhibit EPO production
- IFN-y = increase expression of DMT on surface of macrophages to allow iron to enter - less available for haemoglobin
- IL-10 mediates expression of increased ferritin receptors on surface of macrophages
- IL-6 increases hepcidin
How do distinguish anaemia of chronic disease from iron deficiency anaemia?
Chronic disease anaemia
- Starts normocytic but eventually becomes microcytic
- LOW serum iron levels, LOW TIBC, HIGH ferritin
- Presence of chronic disease state - infection, diabetes, autoimmune, malignancy, critical illness, trauma
Iron Deficiency
- LOW serum iron levels, HIGH TIBC, LOW ferritin
- Pica - abnormal craving or appetite for non-food substances - soil, paint, clay
- Restless leg syndrome
- Pencil cells - blood film
4 main causes of iron deficiency anaemia?
- Inadequate diet
- Increased requirements - growth, pregnancy
- Malabsorption - GI issues
- Blood loss - surgery, GI, menstrual
Typical Findings in Microcytic Anaemia?
RBC
- Microcytic
- Hypochromic
- Target cells - thalassaemia
- Pencil cells - iron deficiency
Why are RBC more easily damaged and removed early from circulation in hereditary spherocytes?
They have an inherited membrane defects - autosomal dominant
Abnormalities in membrane proteins…
1. Spectrin protein
2. Band-3 protein
Intrinsic haemolysis
What is the significance of the G6PD enzyme and if deficient?
G6PD reduces NADP+ back into NADPH
Glutathione is oxidised when mops up free radicals
Glutathione reductase uses NADPH -> NADP+ to reduce oxidised glutathione
G6PD reduces NADP+ back to NADPH to repeat process
No G6PD = no NADPH = no glutathione reductase = build up of free radicals = unstable red cell membrane = haemolysis
(Typically asymptomatic until exposed to oxidative stressors)
What cells can be seen on a blood smear in G6PD deficiency?
Heinz bodies - free radicals damage haemolgobin molecules = damaged proteins precipitate inside RBC
Bite cells - spleen macrophages try to remove the cells by taking a bite
What is the genetic inheritance of G6PD deficiency?
X-linked recessive
What is the mutation in sickle cell?
Amino acid substitution from glutamine to valine in beta chains
Valine - more hydrophobic = cause haemoglobin to polymerise
What haemoglobin is present in sickle cell?
Haemoglobin S
- 2 alpha chains and 2 mutated beta chains
What is a consequence of Haemoglobin S in sickle cell anaemia?
HbS can polymerise when triggered by hypoxia
Become crescent shape - rigid and distorted
Aggregate with other HbS to form polymers that distort red cells = sickling - sickle cell crises
Repeated sickling weakens red cell membrane = premature destruction = intravascular haemolysis
What is a crises in sickle cell?
Vaso-occlusion -> Sickle cells get stuck in capillaries - infarct - pain crises
Block spleen = Spleen sequestration
- Howell-Jolly bodies
Lung sickling - life threatening
Causes of non-immune extrinsic haemolytic anaemia?
Malaria
Burns
Microangiopathic - TTP, DIC, HUS
Hypersplenism
Mechanical heart valve
Drugs - dapsone, toxin from snake/spider bites, copper
What are typical signs of haemolysis?
Jaundice
Dark urine
Gallstones - chronic haemolysis
Signs of anaemia
Splenomegaly
What are classical blood findings of haemolysis?
Raised reticulocytes
Raised LDH
Raised bilirubin
Low haptoglobin
Low Hb
What are classical findings on a blood film for haemolytic anaemia?
Reticulocytes
Schistocytes - DIC, TTP, HUS
Spherocytes - hereditary spherocytosis
Sickle cells
Howell-jolly bodies - splenic atrophy
Bite cells + Heinz bodies- oxidative haemolysis - G6PD deficiency
What are triggers of oxidative stress in G6PD deficiency?
Infections,
Fava beans, soy products
Primaquine, chloroquine, aspirin, NSAIDs, quinidine
What are the 2 important structural proteins in red cell membranes?
Band-3 protein and Spectrin
What occurs in warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
IgG reacts with RBC at 37 degrees -> Leads to extravascular haemolysis - in liver and spleen
Idiopathic, SLE, RA, CLL
What occurs in cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
IgM reacts with RBC below 37 degrees -> leads to intravascular haemolysis, complement activated
Idiopathic, EBV, malignancy
What are the 2 pathophysiologies behind paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Somatic mutation in haematopoietic stem cell
- Mutation in PIG-A gene = GPI protein anchor cannot be synthesised = unable to anchor defence proteins(CD55, CD59) to surface of RBC that normally protect from lysis by complement = MAC-mediated intravascular haemolysis - Background of bone marrow hypoplasia - aplastic anaemia, myelodysplasia
How can you distinguish autoimmune haemolytic anaemias from the other types of haemolytic anaemias?
DAT - direct antiglobulin test to identify antibodies
Common triad of symtptoms for aplastic anaemia?
Anaemia symptoms - pallor, fatigue
Increased bruising/bleeding
Recurrent infections
How do you get reticulocytosis in haemolysis?
Haemolysis stimulates EPO production - erythropoietic hyperplasia = reticulocytosis
What leads to increased absorption of iron?
acids, ascorbate, solubilising agents - sugars, amino acids, vitamin C
pregnancy
increased erythropoiesis
haemochromatosis
Increased DMT-1 and ferroportin receptors
What is TIBC?
Total/Transferrin Iron-Binding Capacity
Determines the amount of iron that can be bound to unsaturated transferrin - amount of transferrin binding sites per unit
High in iron deficiency (increased transferrin production)
Low in inflammation, iron overload (increased transferrin degradation)
What decreases absorption of iron?
Alkalis, phytates, phosphates, tetracyclines
Tea - tanins
Infections - increased hepcidin
High body iron stores
What is the process of iron absorption?
- Iron reduced from ferric to ferrous form(Fe3+ -> 2+) via vitamin C reductase
- Ferrous iron transported into lumen via DMT-1 receptor on lumen membrane
- Ferrous iron transported out of enterocyte via ferroportin receptor
- Ferrous iron converted to ferric iron via hephaestin
- Ferric iron circulates in blood bound to transferrin
What is the role of hepcidin in iron regulation?
Hepcidin is an iron regulator made in the liver.
- Blocks reuptake of iron into the circulation from the liver.
- Blocks ferroportin receptor to prevent iron being released into the circulation from enterocyte
What increases hepcidin production?
Infection/inflammation
High iron plasma levels
HFE
What happens to the iron circulating in the blood?
75% iron sent to the bone marrow for erythropoeisis
10-20% iron sent to liver and stored as ferritin.
What is the role of HFE gene?
HFE regulates hepcidin production - regulates iron absorption
Mutation in HFE = low hepcidin = iron overload = secondary haemochromatosis
How is B12 absorbed?
Intrinsic factor made by parietal cell
IF binds to B12 in stomach + travels through intestine
Absorbed in terminal ileum to circulation
B12 travels in blood bound to transcobalamin + IF degraded
Why is B12 required in folate metabolism?
B12 required for methylation of Methyl THF to THF
Deficiency in B12 = functional folic acid deficiency - metabolism pathway blocked at methylation point
What occurs in pernicious anaemia?
Autoimmune disease
Antibodies against intrinsic factor or against parietal cells.
Impaired absorption of B12 - become deficient = anaemia
What are complications associated with blood transfusions in anaemia?
Iron overload risk - organ failure
Tx = Iron chelation therapy - desferrioxamine
What are characteristics on a blood film for B12/Folate deficiency?
Hypersegmented polymorphonucleated neutrophils (>5 lobes of nucleus)
Macro-ovalocytes - large, oval RBCs
What can precipitate an aplastic crises?
parvovirus infection
What drugs cause folate deficiency?
phenytoin
primidone
methotrexate
sulfasalazine
What drugs cause B12 deficiency?
colchicine
neomycin
metformin
anticonvulsants
PPI
What drugs cause B12 deficiency?
colchicine
neomycin
metformin
anticonvulsants
PPI
How can kidney damage cause anaemia?
Reduced production of EPO
What enzymes are inhibited by lead poisoning in haemoglobin production?
ALA dehydratase
Ferrochelatase
How can a diagnosis of porphyria be made?
Serum levels of enzyme raised
Stool and urinalysis - increased porphyrins
What enzyme inhibition/deficiency is linked to acute intermittent porphyria?
PBG deaminase
Accumulation of delta aminolaevulinic acid + porphobillinogen - toxic
Unexplained abdominal pain
Nausea, vomiting, constipation
Neuropschiatric symptoms
Port-wine coloured urine
What enzyme inhibition/deficiency is linked to Porphyria cutanea tarda?
Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase
… Via inherited defect or liver damage(alcohol, oestrogen, HIV, HepC)
Skin manifestation
- blisters and erosions on sun-exposed skin
- hypertrichosis
- hardened yellow skin
- hypermelanosis
What is the first-rate limiting step in Haemoglobin production that can be blocked?
Inhibition of ALA Synthase
Blocked by B6 deficiency - pyridoxine, glucose
Leads to sideroblastic anaemia - iron accumulation
Presents similar to haemochromatosis
What is a red blood cell broken up into for metabolism?
Globin - amino acids reused for erythropoiesis
Iron - stored or reused
Protoporphyrin - metabolised
What is the metabolism of protoporphyrin?
Biliverdin - cleaved haem and iron released
Unconjugated bilirubin - fat soluble, taken to fatty tissues (can accumulate in brain = kernicterus) - circulates in blood bound to albumin
Conjugated bilirubin - water soluble -(conjugated in liver ER by glucoronidation)
Urobilinogen - in urine - blood and kidneys
Stercobilinogen - brown faeces from action of bacteria in gut
Why can liver damage cause anaemia?
Portal hypertension
Low hepcidin release - similar to chronic disease
Alcohol toxic to bone marrow
What are 4 mechanisms behind jaundice in bilirubin metabolism?
Haemolytic jaundice - increased unconjugated bilirubin in blood (conjugation mechanism overload)
Impaired hepatocytes/liver damage - more unconjugated bilirubin in blood as liver unable to uptake
Impaired bilirubin conjugation - increased unconjugated bilirubin in blood - deficiency in enzymes for glucoronidation in ER
Obstruction - more conjugated bilirubin in blood - normally gallstones or pancreatic carcinoma blocking canaliculi for conjugated bilirubin = pale, chalky faeces, colicky pain
Above what % of blasts are seen in acute leukaemia?
20%
What condition can Auer rods be seen?
Acute myeloid leukaemia
What are complications of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Richter’s Transformation - high grade non-hodgkins lymphoma
What is the pathophysiology behind CML and what is the definitive diagnosis?
Philadelphia chromosome - 9:22
Fusion of BCR-ABL - tyrosine kinase constantly activated
FISH - used to detect
In which diagnosis can you see smudge/smear cells on a blood film?
CLL
What is small lymphocytic lymphoma?
A low grade Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
CLL but when lymphadenopathy with no lymphocytosis
Which group of diseases can transform into AML?
Myeloproliferative disorders
- CML
- PV
- ET
Can transform into myelofibrosis – AML
In which lymphoma can Reed-Sternberg Cells be seen on a blood film?
Hodgkins Lymphoma
What kind of biopsy should not be used in lymphoma?
Fine needle aspirate
What 3 disorders is the JAK2 mutation found?
Polycythaemia
Myelofibrosis
Essential thrombocythemia
In which disorder can tear drop cells be seen on a blood film?
Myelofibrosis
Which disorder can show hypersegmented neutrophils on a blood film?
Megaloblastic anaemia
Which disorder can show schistocytes on a blood film?
Intravascular haemolysis
Which disorder can show pencil cells on a blood film?
Iron deficiency anaemia
Which disorders can show howell-jolly bodies on a blood film?
Hyposplenism
- Sickle cell
- Coeliac disease
What’s the criteria for MGUS?
<10% malignant plasma cells in bone marrow
Paraprotein: 10-30g/L
No CRAB symptoms
What is the CRAB criteria in MM?
C - hypercalcaemia
R - renal failure
A - anaemia
B - bone lesions