Haematology Flashcards
Discuss anaemia in pregnancy
-Definition (2)
-Causes (4)
-Fe requirements in pregnant women
-Folic acid requirements in pregnant women
-B12 requirements in pregnant women
- Definition
-Hb <110 in first and second trimester
-Hb <105 in third trimester - Causes
-Nutritional deficiency (Fe, B12, Folic acid)
-Haemolytic anaemia (HELLP, PET, HUS, TTP)
-Acute anaemia from haemorrhage
-Hereditary anaemia (Thalassemia and sickle cell)
-Anaemia of chronic disease (Chronic renal disease) - Fe requirement - 9mg / day
- Folic acid requirement 20-30x non pregnant woman
- B12 requirement 2x non-pregnant woman
Describe iron deficient anaemia in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Risk factors (5)
-Effects on pregnancy
-Diagnosis
-Management
- Incidence - most common cause of anaemia
- Risk factors
-Menorrhagia
-Poor Fe diet
-Interpregnancy interval <1yr
-Breastfeeding
-Low Fe at start of pregnancy (Rapid worsening) - Effect on pregnancy
-PTL, LBW, Increased blood loss at delivery - Diagnosis
-Low MCH/Low MCV
-Serum iron <12, Serum ferritin <12 - Management
-Treat if ferritin <50
-PO Fe ferrous fumerate 200mg or Ferrous sulphate 325mg
-Consider IV Fe if intolerant to PO
Discuss folate deficiency in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Risk factors
-Diagnosis
-Management
- Incidence: Second commonest cause of anaemia
- Risk factors
-Anti epileptic drugs
-Folate antagonists - Diagnosis
-High MCV
-Low serum and red cell folate
-Hypersegmented neutrophils - Management
-PO replacement 800mcg in NZ 5mg Aus.
-3 months preconception and till 12 weeks
-High dose in certain groups
What women should receive high dose folic acid supplementation in pregnancy (6)
-Have spina bifida
-Previous fetus with NT defect
-Taking folic acid antagonist
-Diabetes
-Obesity
-Malabsorption
-Family Hx of NT defect
Discuss B12 deficiency in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Causes
-Impact on fetus
-Diagnosis
-Management
- Incidence: Less common
- Causes
-IBD
-Pernicious anaemia - Impact to fetus
-Neurological sequalae in exclusively breast fed women - Diagnosis
-High MCV
-Reduced B12 levels
-Hypersegmented neutrophils - Treatment
-Supplement women with vegan or vegetarian diets in pregnancy and breastfeeding
RDI 2.6mcg/day
-B12 injections
Discuss transfusion reactions
-Delayed (4)
-Common acute reactions (2)
-Relatively common acute reactions
-Relatively rare acute reactions
- Delayed reactions
-Can occur days to weeks post transfusion
-Haemolysis, thrombocytopenia, graft vs host disease - Common acute reactions
-Urticaria 1-3%
-Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction 1% - Relatively common acute reactions
-Transfusion associated circulatory overload (<1%)
-Transfusion related acute lung injury (<0.01%) - Relatively rare acute reactions
-Anaphylaxis 1:20,000
-Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction 1:76,000
-Sepsis 1:50,000
Discuss disseminated intravascular anticoagulation in relation to pregnancy
-Pathophysiology (3)
-Diagnosis (4)
-Obstetric causes (5)
-Management
- Pathophysiology
-Endothelial injury - release of procoagulation substances
-Rapid consumption of coagulation factors leads to uncontrolled bleeding
-Stimulation of fibrinolysis causes further bleeding as products are powerful anticoagulants - Diagnosis
-Low fibrinogen <2 in pregnancy is significant
-Elevated fibrin degradation products
-Prolonged APTT and PT
-Low platelets - Obstetric causes
-Massive haemorrhage / placenta abruption
-PET/HELLP
-AFE
-Massive infection - Management
-Treat underlying cause
-Replace factors for coagulopathy with help from haematology
-FFP for coag factors
-RBC for losses
-Platelets if <50
-Cryo for fibrinogen
-Recombinant fibrinogen if fibrinogen <1
-Recombinant factor VIIa for life threatening haemorrhage
Discuss sickle cells disease in pregnancy
-Epidemiology (1)
-Risk factors (3)
-Types(4)
-Inheritance (2 points)
-Pathophysiology (3 points)
-Clinical manifestation (5)
- Epidemiology
-Most common inherited condition world wide - Risk factors
-African, Central/South American decent - Types
-Many types depending on type of haemaglobin.
-HbAS is sickle cell combined with normal Hb - aSx - sickle cell trait.
-HbSS is homozygous for sickle cell
-Types give similar phenotype of varying severity - Inheritance
-Autosomal recessive. Single point mutation in B globin gene - Pathophysiology
-HbS aggregates when deoxygenated causing cell ridigitiy and sickling of the cell
-Leads to occlusions of the microvasculature
-Premature removal of sickled cells from circulation leads to haemolytic anaemia - Clinical presentation
Sickle cell crisis is bought on by exertion, infection, dehydration
-Acute chest symptoms
-Pain from microinfarctions
-Pulmonary HTN
-Renal disease
-Retinal disease
-Stroke
Discuss sickle cell disease in pregnancy
-Impact of pregnancy on sickle cell disease
-Impact of sickle cell on pregnancy (maternal)
-Impact of sickle cell on pregnancy (fetus)
- Impact of pregnancy on sickle cell disease
-25% increase in SCD complications during pregnancy
-Increased VTE, stroke, PE
-Increase in SCD crisis 27-50%
-Increase in infections (UTI, pneumonia) - Impact of SCD on pregnancy (maternal)
-Infection
-PET/gHTN
-Placental abruption
-Maternal mortality 2.5%
-PTL - Impact of SCD on pregnancy (fetus)
-Spontaneous miscarriage 9-25%
-IUGR from chronic hypoperfusion
-Still birth 4-6fold higher
Discuss the management of women with SCD in pregnancy
-Preconception (6)
-Antenatal (10)
-Intrapartum (6)
-Postpartum (6)
- Preconception
-Genetic counselling and assessment of partners genotype
-Screening for end organ damage
-Echo (Pulmonary HTN), retinal screening, renal and liver function
-High dose folic acid 5mg continue throughout pregnancy
-Stop hydroxcarbamide (Hydroxyurea) - teratogenic 3 months pre conception.
-Discuss vaccination given hyposplenia/dysfunction
-Document baseline O2 and BP - Antenatal
-Manage in MDT clinic
-Prophylactic penicillin
-Aspirin for PET prevention
-Regular Hb, Urinalysis and BP checks. Monthly urine cultures
-Fetal serial growth scans
-Tertiary anatomy scan if exposed to hydroxcarbamide looking at spine (16/40) and fetal echo (24/40)
-Switch ACEi or ARBs to lab or methyldopa if necessary
-TEDs and mobilisation. LMWH if admitted
-Avoid routine blood transfusions
-Baseline renal and liver function and PCR - Intrapartum
-Aim delivery 38-40/40
-Keep warm, hydrated and oxygenated
-Continue prophylactic antibiotics
-Recommend epidural
-Avoid pethidine - increase seizure risk
-Can aim VB. - Postpartum
-Ensure warm, hydrated, oxygenated
-Early mobilisation
-VB clexane 7/7
-CS clexane 6/52
-Low threshold for broad-spectum antibiotics
Discuss thalamssaemia in pregnancy
-Epidemiology
-Types
-Risk factors
-Inheritance pattern
- Epidemiology
-Common inherited disorder - Types
-Alpha Thalassemia -defect in the alpha subunit of the globin
-Beta thalassemia - defect in the beta subunit of globin - Risk factors
-Alpha Thal: SEA, India, Africa
-Beta Thal: Middle East, China, Mediterranean, SEA - Inheritance
-Autosomal recessive
Discuss the genetics of Alpha thalassemia
-Four types
-Symptoms experienced
-Impact to fetus
-Impact to mother
- 4 genes on chromosome 16 code for alpha subunit
- 1 defective gene = alpha-thal trait (A+). Asx
- 2 defective genes = alpha-thal trait (A0).
-Can be a loss of both from one parent or one from each parent.
-Asx but can become anaemic in pregnancy - 3 defective genes = HbH disease
-mild to moderate haemolytic anemia.
-Doesn’t require blood transfusions - 4 defective genes = Homozygous alpha thalassemia
-Incompatible with life. Die in utero in 2-3rd trimester of immediately after delivery.
-Have anaemia, develop heart failure and hydrops = Hb Barts Hydrops.
-Mother at risk of severe polyhydramnios, severe PET, PPH.
Discuss the genetics of Beta thalassemia
-Types
-Symptoms experienced
2 genes on chromosome 11 make up beta subunit
1. Types
1defective gene = beta thal minor/trait
- mild anaemia or asx,
-Anaemia and symptoms can be unmasked in pregnancy
-2 defective genes = thal major/transfusion dependant
-Thal intermedia, Homozygous but milder form - spectrum of symptoms
2. Symptoms experienced
-Marked haemolytic anemia, splenomegaly, bone deformities, Fe overload.
-Life expectancy 5-10yrs without treatment
- Transfusion dependent and Fe chelation required
-Associated with endocrine abnormalities (subfertility)
-Thal trait - mild anaemia with decreased MCV
-Thal intermedia - spectrum of symtoms from transfusion requiring to aSx
Discuss management of women with Beta thalassemia major or intermedia in during pregnancy
-Preconception
-Antenatally
-Intrapartum
-Postpartum
- Preconception care
-Screen all women for haemoglobinopathies
-If positive screen partners
-Offer genetic counselling and prenatal Dx (CVS)
-With women who have Fe overload check for end organ damage (Heart, liver, joints, thyroid, pancrease)
-With women who are transfusion dependent check for RBC antibodies and Hep C virus
-Give 5mg folic acid pre and during pregnancy
-Stop Fe chelation prior to pregnancy as Teratogenic
-Aggressively chelate prior to pregnancy to optimally reduce Fe overload
-Check for thyroid and diabetes as increased risk
-Vit D levels optimised - Antenatal care
-Low dose aspirin if plts >600 or splenectomy
-Manage with MDT
-Continue folic acid 5mg
-Treat anaemia with transfusion not Fe. Aim Hb >100
-Monitor fetal growth (risk IUGR, PTB, fetal hypoxia)
-High suspicion for development of HDN
-LMWH if thal major or intermidia - Intrapartum care
-No need for IOL
-Aim VB
-Continuous monitoring
-Active management of third stage and cross matched blood available - Postnatal
-Thromboprophylaxis LMWH regardless of mode of delivery
-No contra-indications to any contraception
-Breastfeeding OK with Fe chelating agents
Discuss Von Willerbrand disease in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Types and prevalence
-Pathophysiology
-Clinical features
- Incidence
-Most common bleeding disorder - 1/10 000 - Types and prevalence
-Type 1 mild, Autosomal dominant but complicated, 80%
-Type 2, Autosomal dominant, associated with thrombocytopenia
-Type 3, Severe, no vWF, autosomal recessive
-Type 2 and 3 make up other 20% - Pathophysiology
vWF helps platelets adhere to injured endothelium and stop VIII from degradation - Clinical features: menorrhagia, mucosal bleeding, prolonged bleeding, easy bruising
Discuss Von Willerbrand disease in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Types and prevalence
-Pathophysiology
-Clinical features
- Incidence
-Most common bleeding disorder - 1% - Types and prevalence
-Type 1 mild, Autosomal dominant, 80%
-Type 2, Autosomal dominant, associated with thrombocytopenia
-Type 3, Severe, not vWF, autosomal recessive
-Type 2 and 3 make up other 20% - Pathophysiology
vWF helps platelets adhere to injured endothelium and stop VIII from degradation - Clinical features: menorrhagia, mucosal bleeding, prolonged bleeding (APTT), easy bruising
How does vWF deficiency affect pregnancy
- Levels of vWF and VIII increase d3-4 fold in pregnancy and so most women are not effected
- Can experience increased bleeding with ectopic, miscarriage, CVS when levels have not peaked
- Levels drop rapidly postnatally and women are at risk of perineal and vulval haematomas and secondary PPH
How should vWF deficiency be managed in pregnancy
-Antenatal care
-Intrapartum care
-Postpartum care
- Antenatal care
-Include haematologist in care
-Offer genetic counseling and testing if at risk of type 3
-Avoid NSAIDS and aspirin
-Refer to anaesthetics - avoid neuraxial block in type 3 and caution with type 2
-Check baseline levels of vWF and FVIII checked - Intrapartum care
-If neonate at risk avoid instrumental delivery, ECV FBS and FSE
-If Type one can consider Desmopressin to increase vWF prior to delivery or epidural
-If type 2 or 3 have to give FFP to increase platelets and VIII
-Active third stage - Postpartum care
-Monitor VIII levels daily to to ensure levels remain satisfactory 3 days for NVB, 5 days for CS or instrumental
-Monitor for secondary PPH and haematomas
-Check baby cord blood
-Avoid IM injections until bleeding disorder is excluded
-Consider a course of TXA
Discuss haemophilia in pregnancy
-Incidence
-Inheritance pattern
-Types
-Impact on female carriers
-Management
- Incidence
-Rare Haem A> Haem B.
-Prevalence of female carriers is unknown - Inheritance - X-Linked recessive
- Types
-Haemophilia A - reduced factor VIII
-Haemophilia B - reduced factor IX
-Haemophillia C - reduced factor XI - Impact on female carriers
-Clotting factor 20-50% of normal
-Increased risk of bleeding with invasive procedures/ TOP etc - Management
-Haem A - Desmopressin and factor VIII
-Haem B - TXA and factor IX