Haematology Flashcards
lifespan of RBCs
120 days
lifespan of platelets
10 days
blood films: what is anisocytosis? associated condition?
RBCs which are unequal size
seen in Myelodysplastic syndrome (cancer where there is insufficient number of mature RBCs)
blood films: what are target cells? associated conditions?
RBCs which look like bullseyes
associated with iron deficiency anaemia or post-splenectomy
blood films: what are Howell-Jolly bodies? associated conditions?
nuclear remnants found in RBCs of patients with reduced or absent splenic function
Seen in severe anaemia or post splenectomy
blood films: what are reticulocytes? Associated condition ?
immature RBCs (still developing)
Haemolytic anaemia
blood films: what are smudge cells? associated condition?
ruptured CLL cells
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
causes of microcytic anaemia (5)
TAILS:
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Iron deficiency
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic anaemia
causes of normocytic anaemia (5)
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Acute blood loss
- aplastic anaemia
- anaemia of chronic disease
causes of megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia (2)
- B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
causes of normoblastic macrocytic anaemia (5)
- Alcohol abuse
- Hypothyroidism
- liver disease
- drugs e.g. Azathioprine
- reticulocytosis e.g. due to haemolysis
Iron deficiency anaemia:
1. features (4)
2. initial diagnostic test
3. possible underlying causes (4)
4. management when cause is unclear
5. treatment options
- features:
- angular cholitis
- tiredness
- hair loss
- koilonychia - Initial diagnostic test= serum ferritin
- possible underlying causes:
1- diet
2- reduced absorption e.g. Coeliac
3 - increased iron requirements e.g. pregnancy
4- bleeding e.g. cancer or menorrhagia - If cause unclear, refer for urgent OGD and colonoscopy to rule out GI cancer
- Tx options:
- oral iron e.g. ferrous sulphate
- iron infusion
- blood transfusion if very low Hb
Pernicious anaemia:
1. What is it?
2. key symptom?
3. treatment?
4. should you treat B12 or folate deficiency first, and why?
- autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the parietal cells of the stomach, which produce intrinsic factor which normally helps absorb B12. this leads to B12 deficiency
- Key symptom= peripheral neuropathy
- Tx: IM hydroxocobalamin injection
- treat B12 deficiency before folate deficiency, because treating folate deficiency can cause subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia:
1. 2 types? which is more common?
2. management (4)
3. Blood film findings (2)
4. is it acquired or inherited?
5. inherited haemolytic anaemia examples? (4)
- Warm and Cold. Warm is more common
- Management:
1- blood transfusions
2- steroids (e.g. prednisolone)
3- rituximab
4- splenectomy - blood film shows
1- raised reticulocytes
2- schistocytes - Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is ACQUIRED
- Examples of inherited haemolytic anaemias:
- sickle cell anaemia
- G6PD deficiency
- thalassaemia
- hereditary spherocytosis
Thalassaemia
1. main issue in thalassaemia
2. types
3. Inheritance pattern
4. diagnostic test
5. potential cure
- Main issue in thalassaemia= defective globulin chains
- types= alpha and beta, depending on which chains are affected
- Inheritance is autosomal recessive
- Diagnostic test= haemoglobin electrophoresis
- Bone marrow transplant
Thalassaemia features:
1. inspection
2. abdo
3. sclera
4. FBC
- pronounced forehead and malar eminences
- abdo- splenomegaly
- scleral jaundice
- FBC: microcytic anaemia
- Thalassaemia management if required? (2)
- why should serum ferritin be monitored in thalassaemia treatment?
- management if needed:
- blood transfusions
- splenectomy - there is a risk of iron overload
Sickle cell anaemia:
1. inheritance pattern
2. One gene copy =?
3. antibiotic prophylaxis in children?
4. medication to stimulate HbF production?
5. Potential cure?
- Autosomal recessive
- sickle cell trait
- Penicillin V
- Hydroxycarbamide
- Bone marrow transplant