Haematology Flashcards
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Cancer of lymph nodes - typically B-cell origin with a bimodal age distribution , EBV association
Sx Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- painless lymphadenopathy which can become painful after drinking alcohol, B-symptoms, Pel-Ebstein fever (cyclical)
- Dx: Reed-Sternberg cells
Tx Hodgkin’s lymphoma
ABVD and surgery
what is NHL?
- Cancer of lymph nodes - typically B-cell origin
- Lots of sub-types - Burkitt’s, hairy cell leukaemia, mantle cell
Sx NHL
painless lymphadenopathy, B-sx
Tx NHL
RCHOP
Burkitt’s lymphoma
- Translocation in c-myc gene
- EBV association
- Starry sky appearance on blood film
what is myeloma?
A malignancy of plasma cells, producing monoclonal antibodies IgG/IgA (Bence-Jones proteins, cause frothy urine)
sx myeloma
- C = calcium increases
- R = renal damage - Bence Jones proteins cause frothy urine
- A = anaemia
- B = bones (lytic lesions - raindrop skull)
- B = bleeding from thrombocytopenia
- I = infections
Ix myeloma
Raised ESR, calcium and plasma cell levels
tx myeloma
Chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and supportive
what is haemophilia?
Haemophilia is an x-linked recessive deficiency of either factor 8 or 9, leading to excessive bleeding
- Haemophilia A: factor 8 deficiency
- Haemophilia B: factor 9 deficiency
sx haemophilia
- Hematomas, hemarthroses and melena
- Long aPTT
- Normal PTT
- Normal bleeding time
mx haemophilia
- Avoid NSAIDs and IM injections
- Can give desmopressin in haemophilia A
- Supplement deficient factor
what is vWF disease?
An autosomal dominant bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of vWF and therefore factor 8
sx vWF disease
- Commonly asymptomatic
- Menorrhagia
- Mucosal bleeding
- Haematoma/haemarthroses are rare
- Normal/high aPTT
tx vWF disease
- Tranexamic acid for mild bleeding
- Desmopressin
what is factor 5 Leiden?
Most common clotting disorder, autosomal dominant condition causing constant activation of factor 5 and therefore constant thrombin activation
sx factor 5 leiden
normally ASx but can form blood clots = VTE/PE
tx factor 5 leiden
anticoagulant with heparin
what is aplastic anaemia?
you stop producing RBCs at all - pancytopenia
can be caused by Fanconi anaemia, chloramphenicol, gold, hepatitis etc
sx aplastic anaemia
Normocytic anaemia with low reticulocytes
Can be associated with acute leukaemia
tx aplastic anaemia
bone marrow transplant, supportive tx
how does CKD cause anaemia?
Reduced EPO = less oxygenated Hb = anaemia
what is iron deficiency anaemia?
Decreased iron binding to protoporphyrin = decreased oxygenated Hb
causes iron deficiency anaemia
- Menorrhagia
- Gastrointestinal bleeding (colon cancer!)
- Inadequate dietary intake
- Poor intestinal absorption
- Increased iron requirements - e.g. during growth spurts
sx iron deficiency anaemia
brittle nails, hair loss, PICA, fatigue, SOB
mx iron deficiency anaemia
treat underlying cause -> oral ferrous fumarate/sulfate for at least 3m
what does a high TIBC indicate?
iron deficiency anaemia
what is thalassaemia
Decreased production of a- or b- globin with varying levels of severity (can be silent, can cause hydrops fetalis)
sx thalassaemia
- Microcytic anaemia with normal ferritin
- High forehead with prominent cheeks and maxilla (see photo)
- Anaemia sx
Mx thalassaemia
transfuse missing globulin
what is pernicious anaemia
Caused by vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies - normally caused by diet.
sx pernicious anaemia
- Cognitive changes
- Headache
- Anorexia
- Fatigue
- Palpitations
- Anti-IF ABs and neurological disturbance
- Addison’s disease
mx pernicious anaemia
B12 and folate supplements - B12 always BEFORE folate