Haematology Flashcards
Components of blood?
Plasma (clotting factors, albumin and Igs)
Cells (RBCs, WBCs and platelets)
Granulocytes vs agranulocytes?
Granulocytes = neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
Agranulocytes = monocytes, lymphocytes
Main types of lymphocyte?
B cell
T cell
NK cell
Main types of differentiated T cell, CD expressed and MHC they present to?
T helper (CD4+) cell
→ presents to MHC class II
Cytotoxic (CD8+) cell
→ presents to MHC class I
What does CD stand for and represent?
Cluster of differentiation
Specific set of antigens on a cell’s surface
CD used to calculate total T cell count and why?
CD3
Present on all mature T cells
Average lifespan of RBCs, platelets and neutrophils?
RBCs = 90-120 days
Platelets = 10 days
Neutrophils = 4 days
Cell morphology associated with IDA, thalassaemia, hyposplenism, G6PD deficiency, myelofibrosis, haemolysis?
IDA = target cells, “pencil” pokilocytes
Thalassaemia = target cells, basophilic stippling
Hyposplenism = target cells, howell-jolly bodies
G6PD deficiency = heinz bodies, bite cells
Myelofibrosis = leukoerythroblastosis, “tear drop” poikilocytes
Haemolysis = schistocytes
Adult haemoglobin composition and globin chain structures?
96% HbA = 2 α and 2 β chains
2% HbA2 = 2 α and 2 δ chains
2% HbF = 2 α and 2 γ chains
Clinical relevance of Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, retic count, haptoglobin, ferritin, transferrin, TIBC, transferrin saturation?
Hb = amount of Hb in blood
Hct = % of blood that is RBCs
MCV = average RBC size
MCH = amount of Hb per RBC
MCHC = conc. of Hb in a given volume
Retic count = number of immature RBCs, indicator of bone marrow activity
Haptoglobin = decreased if free Hb
Ferritin = amount of iron stores
Transferrin = amount of iron transporters
TIBC = amount of transferrin available to bind iron
Transferrin saturation = % of transferrin bound to iron
Features of anaemia?
Fatigue
SOB
Pallor
Angina
Palpitations
Koilonychia
Atrophic glossitis
Angular stomatitis
Causes of microcytic anaemia (MCV < 80fL)?
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)
Thalassaemia
Sideroblastic anaemia
Where is iron absorbed vs stored?
Absorbed = duodenum and proximal jejunum
Stored = RBC (2/3rds), ferritin and haemosiderin (1/3rd)
Blood test features of IDA?
Low iron
Low ferritin
High TIBC
High transferrin
Low transferrin saturation
New iron deficiency in an adult without a clear cause?
Refer for OGD and colonoscopy
Management options for IDA?
Increase dietary iron
Oral ferrous sulfate
IV iron infusion
Blood transfusion
How much should iron rise during treatment?
10 grams/litre/week
Genetic inheritance of thalassaemias?
Autosomal recessive
Features of thalassaemia?
Anaemia symptoms
Haemolysis e.g. jaundice
Hepatosplenomegaly
Bone deformities
Failure to thrive (kids)
Outline the genetics of α-globin chains?
- 2 genes on chromosome 16 code for α-globin
- 2 copies of chromosome 16 in each diploid cell means 4 α-globin alleles (e.g. αα/αα)
α thalassaemia mutations and their clinical name?
1 deleted allele = silent carrier
2 deleted alleles = α thalassaemia trait
3 deleted alleles = HbH disease
4 deleted alleles = Hb Barts
What is HbH disease?
Lack of α-globin production causes excessive amounts of β-globin
β-globins bind together to form HbH
Outline the genetics of β-globin chains?
- 1 gene on chromosome 11 codes for β-globin
- 2 copies of chromosome 11 in each diploid cell means 2 β-globin alleles (e.g. ββ)
Types of β-globin mutation?
β+ = reduced chain synthesis
β0 = no chain synthesis
β thalassaemia mutations and their clinical name?
β0β or β+β = thalassamia minor
β+β+ or β+β0 = thalassaemia intermedia
β0β0 = thalassaemia major
Investigation for thalassaemia and feature of β?
Hb electrophoresis
β thalassaemia = increased HbA2
Management of thalassaemia?
Blood transfusions (if symptomatic)
Iron chelation e.g. desferrioxamine (if iron overload)
Splenectomy (if severe haemolysis)
Bone marrow transplantation
Outline the pathophysiology of sideroblastic anemia?
- Defect in heme synthesis within RBC mitochondria
- Iron unable to be incorporated so low Hb
- Iron accumulates within mitochondria
Sub-types and causes of macrocytic anaemia (MCV > 100fL)?
Megaloblastic
→ B12 deficiency, folate deficiency
Normoblastic (non-megaloblastic)
→ alcohol, liver disease, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, myelodysplasia, reticulocytosis
Where is B12 vs folate absorbed?
B12 = terminal ileum
Folate = duodenum and jejunum
Most common cause of B12 deficiency?
Pernicious anaemia
Features of B12 deficiency?
Anaemia symptoms
Atrophic glossitis
Angular stomatitis
Mood changes
Peripheral neuropathy
Loss of vibration or proprioception
Management of B12 deficiency?
IM hydroxocobalamin
→ 3 times a week for 2 weeks
→ then once every 3 months
Management of folate deficiency?
PO folate
→ once every day for 3 months
Advice for treating mixed B12 and folate deficiency?
Treat B12 deficiency first!
Starting with folic acid can cause subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
Causes of normocytic anaemia (MCV 80-100 fL)?
Anaemia of chronic disease
Chronic kidney disease
Aplastic anaemia
Haemolytic anaemia
Acute blood loss
Spurious (false) normocytic anaemia cause?
Fluid overload e.g. heart failure, CKD
(Increased plasma volume dilutes RBCs)
Outline the pathophysiology of anaemia of chronic disease?
- High levels of inflammatory cytokines
- IL-6 causes hepcidin release from the liver
- Hepcidin decreases ferroportin activity
- Less iron is absorbed so less Hb produced
Outline the pathophysiology of aplastic anaemia?
- Immune destruction of bone marrow or premature death of haematopoietic stem cells
- Causes pancytopaenia and hypocellular marrow
Triggers of aplastic anaemia?
Infection e.g. parvovirus
Drugs e.g. carbamazepine
Autoimmune disease
Radiation/chemical exposure
Features of haemolysis?
Anaemia symptoms
Jaundice
Gallstones
Hepatosplenomegaly
Pathophysiology of intravascular haemolysis and causes?
RBCs destroyed within vessels
→ ABO mismatched blood transfusion
→ cold-agglutinin disease (IgM)
→ red cell fragmentation e.g. DIC, TTP, HUS, prosthetic heart valve
→ paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinruria
→ G6PD deficiency
Blood test feature of intravascular haemolysis?
Low haptoglobin
Pathophysiology of extravascular haemolysis and causes?
RBCs destroyed in the spleen
→ haemoglobinopathies e.g. sickle cell
→ warm-agglutinin disease (IgG)
→ hereditary spherocytosis
→ haemolytic disease of the newborn
Outline the pathophysiology of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
- Trigger e.g. infection causes mass release of procoagulants
- Widespread formation of thrombi
- Thrombi damage RBCs causing haemolysis
- Clotting factors diminish causing bleeding
Blood test features of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)?
Prolonged PT/APTT
Thrombocytopenia
Low fibrinogen
Fibrinolysis products (e.g. D-dimer)
Outline the pathophysiology of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?
- Deficiency of metalloprotease (ADAMTS13) which cleaves vWF multimers
- Large vWF multimers cause platelets to clump within vessels and form thrombi
- Thrombi damage circulating RBCs causing haemolysis
- Platelets diminish causing thrombocytopenia
AIHA vs non-AIHA examples and test to differentiate?
AIHI = warm-agglutinin and cold-agglutinin disease
Non-AIHI = all other haemolytic anaemias
Investigation = direct Coomb’s test
Management options for warm (IgG) AIHI?
1st line = steroids
2nd line = rituximab
3rd line = splenectomy
Management options for cold (IgM) AIHI?
1st line = supportive e.g. avoid cold
2nd line = rituximab
Patient with VTE and dark urine in the morning? Investigation of choice?
Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Investigation = flow cytometry
Male baby with jaundice and anaemia? Investigation of choice?
G6PD deficiency
Investigation = G6PD enzyme assay