Haematology Flashcards
define anaemia
low Hb
TAILS: causes of microcytic anaemia?
- Thalassaemia
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Iron def
- Lead poisoning
- Sideroblastic
3As and 2Hs: causes of normocytic anaemia?
- Acute blood loss
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Aplastic anaemia
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Hypothyroidism
how can macrocytic anaemia be classified?
- megaloblastic
- normoblastic
causes of megaloblastic anaemia?
- B12 def
- folate def
causes of normoblastic, macrocytic anaemia?
- alcohol
- reticulocytosis
- hypothyroidism
- liver disease
- azathioprine therapy
symptoms of anaemia?
- tiredness
- SOB
- headaches
- dizziness
- palpitations
- worsening of other disease
which conditions may worsen with anaemia?
- angina
- heart failure
- PVD
which 3 symptoms of anaemia are specific to iron deficiency anaemia?
- pica
- hair loss
- restless leg syndrome
signs O/E of anaemia?
- pale skin
- conjunctival pallor
- nail signs
- tachycardia
- raised RR
which signs O/E are specific to iron deficiency anaemia?
- koilonychia (spoon nails)
- angular chelitis
- atrophic glossitis
- brittle hair and nails
which type of anaemia is jaundice specific to?
haemolytic anaemia
which type of anaemia do bone deformities indicate?
thalassaemia
findings O/E of anaemia due to CKD?
- oedema
- HTN
- excoriations on the skin
bloods done to investigate for anaemia?
- Hb
- MCV
- B12 and folate
- ferritin
- blood film
non-blood test investigations done in anaemia?
- oesophageal-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD)
- bone marrow biopsy
causes of iron deficiency?
- insufficient dietary uptake
- increased requirements (e.g. pregnancy)
- iron being lost from a slow bleed
- inadequate absorption (e.g. coeliac)
where in the gut does iron get absorbed? what is the soluble form of iron?
- duodenum and jejunum
- ferrous (Fe 2+)
how is iron converted from the insoluble Fe3+ to the soluble Fe2+?
using stomach acid
how can PPIs cause an iron deficiency?
- they reduce gastric acid secretion
- stops iron being converted to the soluble form of Fe 2+
- therefore not absorbed
most common cause of iron deficiency in adults not menstruating?
blood loss in the GI tract
most common cause of iron deficiency in children?
dietary insufficiency
how can transferrin saturation be calculated?
serum iron / TIBC
what can cause a raised ferritin?
infection
how are TIBC and transferrin affected by iron deficiency?
both increase
how are TIBC and transferrin affected by iron overload?
both decrease
what could cause iron studies to give an iron overload impression?
- iron supplements
- acute liver damage
3 management options for iron deficiency anaemia?
- blood transfusion
- iron infusion
- PO ferrous sulfate
how should Hb rise with oral iron supplements?
10g/L per week
what are the 2 causes of B12 deficiency?
- insufficient dietary uptake
- pernicious anaemia
what is needed to absorb B12? where is this secreted?
- intrinsic factor
- parietal cells of the stomach
where in the gut does B12 get absorbed?
terminal ileum
neuro signs of B12 deficiency?
- peripheral neuropathy, incl numbness / paraesthesia
- loss of vibration / proprioception
- visual changes
- mood / cognitive changes
pathophysiology of pernicious anaemia?
- antibodies have formed against parietal cells / intrinsic factor
- stops B12 being absorbed in the terminal ileum
how is pernicious anaemia diagnosed?
test for the following antibodies:
- intrinsic factor antibody (1st line)
- gastric parietal cell antibody
management of insufficient dietary B12?
PO cyanocobalamin supplements
management of pernicious anaemia? hint: can’t be oral because won’t be absorbed
IM hydroxycobalamin
why is it important to treat a B12 def before a folate def (in pts with both)?
giving folic acid to pt with B12 def can cause subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
how can causes of haemolytic anaemia be classified?
inherited vs acquired
inherited forms of haemolytic anaemia?
- hereditary spherocytosis
- thalassaemia
- sickle cell anaemia
- G6PD deficiency
acquired forms of haemolytic anaemia?
- autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, incl. haemolytic disease of the newborn
- paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
- prosthetic valve-related haemolysis
signs O/E of haemolytic anaemia? (hint: all due to RBC destruction)
- anaemia
- splenomegaly
- jaundice
investigations for haemolytic anaemia?
- FBC (normocytic)
- blood film
- direct Coombs test
what is seen on the blood film in haemolytic anaemia?
schistocytes (fragments of RBCs)
when does the direct Coombs test give a positive result?
autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
mode of inheritance of hereditary spherocytosis?
autosomal dominant
presentation of hereditary spherocytosis?
- jaundice
- gallstones
- splenomegaly
- aplastic crisis
which organism can bring on an aplastic crisis in hereditary spherocytosis patients?
parvovirus
how is hereditary spherocytosis diagnosed?
- FHx
- clinical features
- blood film
- FBC
- reticulocyte count (raised)
findings on blood film in hereditary spherocytosis?
spherocytes
finding on FBC in hereditary spherocytosis? hint: it’s a rogue one
MCHC is raised
treatment of hereditary spherocytosis?
- folate supplements
- splenectomy
key difference between hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis?
- in the second one, RBCs are ellipse shaped
- otherwise identical
mode of inheritance for G6PD deficiency?
- X linked recessive
G6PD deficiency is more common in patients of which descent?
Mediterranean / African
what can trigger a G6PD deficiency crisis?
- infection
- drugs
- fava beans (broad beans)
drugs which cause G6PD deficiency crisis?
- primaquine
- ciprofloxacin
- sulfonylurea
- sulfasalazine
how is G6PD deficiency diagnosed?
G6PD enzyme assay
signs O/E of G6PD deficiency crisis?
- jaundice (usually in neonates)
- gallstones
- anaemia
- splenomegaly
what is seen on the blood film of someone in G6PD deficiency crisis?
Heinz bodies
how can autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) be classified?
- warm type: haemolysis at normal or higher temperatures
- cold type: haemolysis at colder temps
causes of warm AIHA?
idiopathic
causes of cold AIHA?
- lymphoma
- leukaemia (e.g. CLL)
- SLE
- infections (EBV, CMV, HIV)
management of AIHA?
- blood transfusions
- prednisolone
- rituximab
- splenectomy
what is alloimmune haemolytic anaemia? give 2 types
- immune reaction destroying foreign RBCs in circulation
- transfusion reaction
- haemolytic disease of the newborn
what are the chains making up normal adult Hb?
2 alpha + 2 beta globin chains
pathophysiology of thalassaemia?
- genetic defect causing defective alpha / beta globin chain production
- spleen then recognises RBCs as damaged and breaks them all down
potential signs and symptoms of thalassaemia?
- anaemia (microcytic) and assoc signs (fatigue, pallor)
- jaundice
- gallstones
- splenomegaly
- poor growth and development
- pronounced forehead and cheekbones
investigations in thalassaemia?
- FBC (microcytic anaemia)
- Hb electrophoresis
- DNA testing
- screened for in pregnancy booking appt
how can thalassaemia (and treatment) result in iron overload?
- increased Fe absorption in response to anaemia
- recurrent blood transfusion therapy
what needs to be monitored in thalassaemia patients? why?
- serum ferritin
- to check for iron overload
presentation of iron overload in thalassaemia? hint: similar to haemachromatosis
- fatigue
- liver cirrhosis
- infertility / impotence
- heart failure
- arthritis
- DM
- osteoporosis, joint pain
where is the affected gene in alpha thalassaemia?
chromosome 16
where is the affected gene in beta thalassaemia?
chromosome 11