Haematology Flashcards
Low haemaglobin + raised MCV - type of anaemia?
macrocytic
causes of Vitmain B12 deficiency?
pernicous anaemia
atrophic gastritis due to H.pylori
gastrectomy
malnutrition
Investigations for pernicous anaemia?
FBC (macrocytic anaemia, low WCC + platelets)
Vit B and folate levels
anti-intrinsic factors antibodies (1st line)
anti gastric parietal cell antibodies
management of pernicous anaemia?
IM vit B12 replacement
folate supplements
investigations for wilsons disease?
- slit lamp examination for Kayser-Fleischer rings
- reduced serum caeruloplasmin
- reduced total serum copper
- free (non-ceruloplasmin-bound) serum copper is increased
- increased 24hr urinary copper excretion
- the diagnosis is confirmed by genetic analysis of the ATP7B gene
first line management of Wilson’s disease?
penicillamine
What is multiple myeloma?
Disease of plasma cells - abnormal clonal proliferation of post-germinal B cells (plasma cells) this leads to secretion of monoclonal antibodies (most commonly of the Ig subtype) and antibody fragments into the serum and the urine.
What are the clinical features of multiple myeloma (CRAB HAI)?
- Hypercalcaemia
- Renal impairement
- anaemia
- bone pathology
- hyperviscosity (headaches, visual distrubance)
- amyloidosis
- infection
What could bloods show if a patient had multiple myeloma?
FBC may show anaemia
U&E may show renal impairment (particularly raised serum creatinine)
Hypercalcaemia
Imaging for multiple myeloma?
Whole body MRI - 1st line
Head XRAY - raindrop skull
diagnostic tests for multiple myeloma?
- Serum and/or urine electrophoresis: this will show a paraprotein spike (typically IgG).
- Serum free light chain essay (Bence Jones protein)
- Tissue diagnosis typically by bone marrow aspirate and biopsy: myeloma is confirmed if there are >10% of plasma cells in the bone marrow.
management of multiple myeloma?
Haematopoietic stem cell transplant
if unable to get stem cell transplant then Melphalan plus Prednisolone plus Thalidomide
Haemophilia A inheritence type?
X-linked recessive
(very rare in woman but look out for features of Turner’s syndrome)
What is haemophilia A?
bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factor VIII
Diagnostic test for haemophilia A?
factor VIII assay, and severity depends on the factor VIII level (severe disease occurs if factor VIII is <1% of normal).
Management of haemophilia A?
Minor bleeds = Desmopressin
Major bleeds = recombinant factor VIII.
What is haemophilia B?
X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factor IX
Diagnostic test for haemophilia B?
Factor IX assay
Management of haemophilia B?
Recombinant factor IX
What’s more likely - haemophilia A or B?
A
Clinical features of Lymphoma?
Painless lymphadenopathy (non-tender, rubbery, asymmetrical)
B symptoms (fever, night sweats, and weight loss)
Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
Extranodal Disease - gastric (dyspepsia, dysphagia, weight loss, abdominal pain), bone marrow (pancytopenia, bone pain), lungs, skin, central nervous system (nerve palsies)
Alcohol induced pain in lymphadenopathy node = ?
Hodgkins lymphoma
Investigations for lymphoma?
- Excisional node biopsy - diagnostic
- CT chest, abdomen and pelvis (to assess staging)
- HIV test (often performed as this is a risk factor for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
- FBC and blood film (patient may have a normocytic anaemia and can help rule out other haematological malignancy such as leukaemia)
- ESR (useful as a prognostic indicator)
- LDH (a marker of cell turnover, useful as a prognostic indicator)
Staging system for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Ann Arbor system