Haematology Flashcards
What would be blood results of anaemia of chronic disease?
low/normal ferritin and wide distribution of red blood cell volume
What are side effects of ferrous sulphate?
Black stools, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea
What are triggers for sickle cell crisis?
Infection, dehydration, hypoxia, acidosis, exposure to cold
Why does sickle cell not present till 6 months?
High levels of HbF mask the effect of this until they start to fall at 6 months
What are some complications of myeloma?
Hypercalcaemia, spinal cord compression, hyperviscosity, acute renal failure.
Why are people with myeloma susceptible to other infections?
Possible bone marrow infiltration; immunoparesis secondary to overexpression of one immunoglobulin and underexpression of any other immunoglobulins.
What is the treatment for CLL and how is it given?
Imatinib - tyrosine kinase inhibitor, oral
CML vs CLL
CLL - usually an incidental finding with no symptoms
CML - will have symptoms, usually massive splenomegaly (described as sense of fullness sometimes)
AML vs CML
AML - low neutrophils and platelets
CML - anaemia, raised neutrophils and platelets
ALL blood findings
- Raised lymphocytes
- Low neutrophils
- Low platelets
What is raised with beta thalassaemia major?
HbA2
PT vs APTT
PT - extrinsic - Factors 3 and 7 (play tennis outside)
APTT - intrinsic - Factors 9,11,13 (play table tennis inside)
New B symptoms in someone with CLL?
Richters transformation -> CLL transforms into aggressive large cell lymphoma
Patients over the age of 60 who present with iron deficiency anaemia
Investigate for colorectal cancer -> colonoscopy
Causes of the renal impairment in myeloma?
AL type amyloidosis, Bence Jones nephropathy, nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis
Isolated rise in GGT in the context of a macrocytic anaemia
Alcohol excess
‘starry sky’ appearance on lymph node biopsy
Burkitt lymphoma - associated with EBV/HIV
Complications of blood transfusions
Non-haemolytic febrile reaction: Fever and chills -> slow/stop transfusion + paracetamol
Minor allergic reaction: urticaria and pruritic -> stop transfusion and give antihistamine
Acute haemolytic reaction: fever, abdominal pain, hypotension -> stop transfusion, recheck patient identity, send blood for repeat testing
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload: hypertension, pulmonary oedema -> slow/stop transfusion + loop diuretic and oxygen
Transfusion-related acute lung injury: hypoxia, hypotension, fever -> stop transfusion, oxygen
What is the most common clotting abnormality?
Von-Wilebrand disease
What is the treatment for beta thalassaemia major?
Lifelong blood transfusions
low platelets, increased clotting time and raised fibrin degradation products (FDPs)
DIC
When does heparin-induced thrombocytopenia present?
5-14 days post op with low platelets, nothing else
Which drugs can cause haemolytic in patients with G6PD?
- Ciprofloxacin
- Sulphasalazine
- Sulfonylureas
- Sulphonamides
Hereditary spherocytosis vs G6PD?
HS - extra vascular haemolysis -> causes splenomegaly
G6PD - intravascular haemolysis -> normal spleen
Inheritance of G6PD vs HS?
G6PD - X linked recessive -> transmitted from mother
HS - Autosomal dominant
What can precipitate renal failure in patients with myeloma?
NSAIDs
unexplained nosebleeds and menorrhagia + an immune condition
Think ITP
IgA deficiency increases the risk of what?
Anaphylactic reactions to blood transfusions
Which leukaemia is associated with polycythaemia?
AML
Blood test findings for leukaemia?
AML: increased myeloblasts + anaemia and thrombocytopenia
ALL: increased lymphoblasts + anaemia and thrombocytopenia
CML: increased granulocytes + anaemia
CLL: increased lymphocytes (usually B cells) + anaemia
What are negative prognostic factors for lymphoma?
- The presence of B symptoms
- Male gender
- Being aged >45 years old at diagnosis
- High WCC, low Hb, high ESR or low blood albumin
- Lymphocyte depleted subtype
What infection can trigger an aplastic crisis in patients with hereditary spherocytosis?
Parvovirus
Which subtype of Hodgkins has the best prognosis?
Lymphocyte predominant
Malaria prophylaxis can trigger what?
Haemolytic anaemia in those with G6PD deficiency
hyper-segmented neutrophil polymorphs
Megaloblastic anaemia
Abdominal pain, constipation, neuropsychiatric features, basophilic stippling
Lead poisoning
What are irradiated blood products used for?
Reduce the risk of graft vs host disease by destroying T cells
What are the adverse effects of tamoxifen?
Increased risk of VTE and endometrial cancer
Most common organism which causes neutropenic sepsis?
Staph epidermis
Which drugs can cause aplastic anaemia?
- Phenytoin
- Chloramphenicol
- Cytotoxics
- Sulphonamides
IgM paraprotein
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia
pain, oedema, dermatitis, ulceration, abnormal skin pigmentation, hyperpigmentation, gangrene, lipodermatosclerosis
post-thrombotic syndrome
When should G6PD enzyme assays be done?
At presentation and 3 months after to avoid false negatives
Mycoplasma infection can cause what?
Cold Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
What ITU treatment could be considered for someone with sickle cell crisis
Exchange transfusion -> reduce number of sickle cells and increase normal RBC to improve oxygenation
What is a common complication of Burkitts lymphoma?
Tumour lysis syndrome
What electrolyte imbalances are seen in tumour lysis?
hyperkalaemia
hyperphosphataemia
hypocalcaemia
hyperuricaemia
acute renal failure
‘tear drop’ poikilocytes
Myelofibrosis
intense itching which usually occurs after exposure to hot water or hot and humid weather
Polycythaemia vera
What can be given prior to chemo to prevent tumour lysis syndrome?
Allopurinol or rasburicase
Beta thalasaaemia major vs trait?
Major would have profound anaemia usually Hb <60
Sickle cell + abdominal pain + anaemia
Sequestration crisis
Transfusion thresholds?
Normal patients <70
Patients with ACS <80
What is the treatment for ITP?
Oral steroids / IVIG if signs of major bleeding
Rouleaux formation
Multiple myeloma
Target cells and Howell-Jolly bodies
Coeliac disease -> hyposplenism
decrease in haptoglobin levels
Haemolysis
large multinucleate cells with eosinophilic nucleoli
Reed-Sternberg
What are complications of CLL?
- Anaemia
- Recurrent infections due to hypogammaglobulinaemia
- Warm AIHA
- Transformation into non-Hodgkins
High HBA2?
Beta thalassaemia
What is the treatment for post thrombotic syndrome?
Compression stockings
Complications of polycythaemia?
- Thrombotic events (patients given aspirin as prophylaxis)
- Myelofibrosis
- Acute leukaemia
normocytic anaemia with low serum iron, low TIBC but raised ferritin
Think anaemia of chronic disease
Aplastic crisis vs sequestration crisis in sickle cell?
Aplastic - reduced reticulocytes
Sequestration - increased reticulocytes