Haematology Flashcards
What is the lifespan of a RBC?
3 months
What is the lifespan of a platelet?
10 days
What does anisocytosis on a blood film indicate?
Myelodysplastic syndrome
What do target cells on a blood film indicate?
Iron deficiency anaemia
Post-splenectomy
What do Howell-Jolly bodies on a blood film indicate?
Post-Splenectomy
Severe anaemia
What do reticulocytes on a blood film indicate?
Haemolytic anaemia
What do smudge cells on a blood film indicate?
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
Causes of Microcytic anaemia
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Iron deficiency anaemia
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic anaemia
Causes of Normocytic anaemia
Acute blood loss
Haemolytic anaemia
Aplastic anaemia
Hypothyroidism
Anaemia of chronic disease
Causes of Megaloblastic anaemia?
B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
Causes of Normoblastic, macrocytic anaemia?
Reticulocytosis (e.g. due to Haemolysis)
Alcohol
Hypothyroidism
Liver disease
Drugs (e.g. Azathioprine)
Possible underlying causes for iron deficiency anaemia?
- Inadequate dietary iron
- Inadequate iron absorption (e.g. Coeliac)
- Increased iron requirements (e.g. pregnancy)
- Bleeding (e.g. heavy periods or GI cancer)
Where is intrinsic factor produced?
Parietal cells of the stomach
In pernicious anaemia what is the order of treatment steps and why?
You should treat the B12 deficiency first as treating low folate first can cause Subacute combined degeneration of the cord
What are the types of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and which is more common?
Warm types AHA (most common)
Cold type AHA
What is the management for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
- Blood transfusions
- Steroids (Prednisolone)
- Rituximab
- Splenectomy
What are some inherited causes of haemolysis?
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Hereditary elliptocytosis
- Thalassaemia
- Sickle cell anaemia
- G6PD deficiency
What is the inheritance pattern of Thalassaemia
Autosomal recessive
What is the diagnostic test of Thalassaemia?
Haemoglobin electrophoresis
Why do you monitor serum ferritin in thalassaemia?
Risk of Iron overload
What is the inheritance pattern of Sickle cell disease?
Autosomal recessive
Affecting the gene for Beta-Globin on Chromosome 11
What is the medication used to stimulate HbF production in sickle cell anaemia?
Hydroxycarbamide
What are some complications of Sickle Cell disease?
- Anaemia
- Increased risk of infection
- CKD
- Sickle cell crisis
- Acute chest syndrome
- Stroke
- Avascular necrosis in large joints such as the hip
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Gallstones
- Priapism
What is a vaso-occlusive crisis?
Most common type of sickle cell crisis caused by the sickle-shaped red blood cells clogging capillaries causing distal ischaemia.
What is a splenic sequestration crisis?
Splenic sequestration crisis is caused by red blood cells blocking blood flow within the spleen. It causes an acutely enlarged and painful spleen. Blood pooling in the spleen can lead to severe anaemia and hypovolaemic shock.
What is an aplastic crisis?
Aplastic crisis describes a temporary absence of the creation of new red blood cells. It is usually triggered by infection with parvovirus B19.
It leads to significant anaemia (aplastic anaemia).
What is acute chest syndrome?
Acute chest syndrome occurs when the vessels supplying the lungs become clogged with red blood cells. A vaso-occlusive crisis, fat embolism or infection can trigger it.
How does acute chest syndrome present?
Acute chest syndrome presents with fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and hypoxia. A chest x-ray will show pulmonary infiltrates.
What is the management for acute chest syndrome?
Analgesia
Good hydration (IV fluids may be required)
Antibiotics or antivirals for infection
Blood transfusions for anaemia
Incentive spirometry using a machine that encourages effective and deep breathing
Respiratory support with oxygen, non-invasive ventilation or mechanical ventilation
What type of lymphoma is most associated with EBV?
Burkitts Lymphoma
What type of lymphoma is most associated with H. Pylori in the stomach?
MALT lymphoma
What type of lymphoma is most associated with a rapidly-growing painless mass?
Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma
What are the investigations for Multiple Myeloma?
- Serum protein electrophoresis
- Serum-free light chain assay
- Urine Bence-Jones protein
What is the description of a skull on XRay in multiple myeloma?
‘Raindrop skull’ `
What is the first line chemotherapy for Multiple Myeloma?
- Bortezomid
- Thalidomide
- Dexamethasone
What is the presentation of polycythaemia vera?
Itching
Excessive Sweating
Bruising
Conjunctival plethora
‘‘Ruddy Complexion’’
Splenomegaly
What is the proliferating cell line in Polycythaemia vera?
Erythroid cells
What is the key gene mutation in polycythaemia vera?
JAK2
What is the potential malignant transformation associated with polycythaemia vera?
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
What are some causes of abnormal or prolonged bleeding?
- Thrombocytopaenia
- Von Willebrand disease
- Haemophilia A or B
- Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy