Haematology Flashcards
What are the 4 main types of leukaemia ?
Acute myeloid leukaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
What leukaemia most commonly affects children under 5 ?
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
How can leukaemia present ?
Fatigue
Fever
Pallor
Petechiae
Abnormal bleeding
Hepatosplenomegaly
What are some differentials for a non-blanching rash ?
Leukaemia
Meningococcal septicaemia
Vasculitis
Henoch-schonlein purpura
ITP
Non-accidental injury
What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia associated with ?
Down’s syndrome
How does acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cause pancytopenia ?
Affects the lymphocyte precursor cells causing acute proliferation of a single type of lymphocyte usually B cells.
Excessive accumulation of these cells replaces the other cell types in the bone marrow leading to pancytopenia.
What occurs in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ?
Slow proliferation of a single type of well-differentiated lymphocyte usually B cells.
How does chronic lymphocytic leukaemia present ?
Asymptomatic
Infections
Anaemia
Bleeding
Weight loss
What is Richter’s transformation ?
The rare transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia into high grade B cell lymphoma.
What appears on a blood film in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ?
Smear or smudge cells due to ruptured white blood cells that occur while preparing the blood film due to cells being fragile and aged.
What are the 3 phases of chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
Chronic phase
Accelerated phase
Blast phase
What happens in the first phase of chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
Often asymptomatic and patients are diagnosed after an incidental finding of a raised white cell count.
What happens in the second phase of chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
Abnormal blast cells take up a high proportion of the bone marrow and blood cells.
Patients become symptomatic and develop anaemia, thrombocytopenia and immunodeficiency.
What happens in the final phase of chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
An even higher proprioception of blast cells in the blood
Severe symptoms and panctyopenia
Often fatal
What can acute myeloid leukaemia be a transformation of ?
A myeloproliferative disorder such as polycythaemia ruby vera or myelofibrosis
What is seen on a blood film and biopsy in acute myeloid leukaemia ?
High proportion of blast cells
Auer rods in the cytoplasm of blast cells are also characteristic
What is the general management of leukaemia ?
Chemotherapy and targeted therapies
Examples of targeted therapy - tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies
Radiotherapy
Bone marrow transplant
Surgery
What are some complications of chemotherapy ?
Failure to treat the cancer
Stunted growth and development in children
Infections
Neurotoxicity
Infertility
Secondary malignancy
Cardio toxicity
Tumour lysis syndrome
What in tumour lysis syndrome and what does it result in ?
Results from chemicals released when cells are destroyed by chemotherapy, resulting in :
- high uric acid
- high potassium
- high phosphate
- low calcium
What complications can occur from tumour lysis syndrome ?
AKI - uric acid can form crystals in the interstitial space and tubules of the kidneys
Cardiac arrhythmias - from hyperkalaemia
Systemic inflammation - release of cytokines
What is tumour lysis syndrome managed ?
Very good hydration and urine output before chemotherapy is required
Allopurinol or rasburicase may suppress uric acid levels
What are some poor prognostic features of acute myeloid leukaemia ?
Over 60 years old
More than 20% blasts after first course of chemo
Deletion of chromosome 5 or 7
What are some features of acute myeloid leukaemia ?
Anaemia - pallor, lethargy
Neutropenia
Thrombocytopenia- bleeding
Splenomegaly
Bone pain
What is the Philadelphia chromosome and what is its relevance ?
Translocation between the long arm of chromosome 9 and 22. Results in abnormal tyrosine kinase activity.
It is present on more than 95% of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
At what age is chronic myeloid leukaemia most common ?
60-70
What are some features of chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
Anaemia - lethargy
Weight loss and sweating
Splenomegaly
What is the management for chronic myeloid leukaemia ?
Imatinib - first line - inhibitor of tyrosine kinase
What are some complications of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ?
Anaemia
Hypogammaglobulinaemia
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Richter’s transformation
What symptoms are present in richters transformation ?
Lymph node swelling
Fever without infection
Weight loss
Night sweats
Nausea
Abdominal pain
What are some features of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ?
Anaemia - lethargy and pallor
Neutropenia - severe and recurrent infections
Thrombocytopenia - easy bruising and petechiae
Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly
What are some poor prognostic factors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ?
Age less than 2 or above 10
WBC more than 20*10^9 at diagnosis
T or B cell surface markers
Non-Caucasian
Male sex
What is lymphoma ?
The malignant proliferation of lymphocytes which accumulate in lymph nodes or other organs. Lymphoma may be classified as either Hodgkin’s lymphoma or non-Hodgkin’s
What is Hodgkin’s lymphoma ?
A specific type of lymphoma characterised by the presence of reed-sternberg cells
What are some risk factors of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ?
Elderly
Caucasian
History of viral infection - Epstein Barr virus
Family history
Certain chemical agents
History of chemo or radiotherapy
Immunodeficiency - HIV DM
Autoimmune disease - SLE, sjogrens or coeliac
What are some symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ?
Painless lymphadenopathy - non-tender asymmetrical
B symptoms - fever, weight loss, lethargy
Extranodal disease - gastric ( dyspepsia, dysphagia, weight loss ) bone marrow ( pancytopenia, bone pain), lung and skin
How is Hodgkin’s lymphoma differentiated from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ?
In Hodgkin’s - alcohol induced pain in the nodes
B symptoms occur earlier in Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Extra nodal more common in non-Hodgkin’s
What are some signs of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ?
Weight loss
Lymphadenopathy
Palpable abdominal mass
Testicular mass
Fever
What is aplastic anaemia ?
Characterised by pancytopenia and hypoplastic bone marrow
What features are present in aplastic anaemia ?
Nomochromic normocytic anaemia
Leukopenia
Thrombocytopenia
What are some causes of aplastic anaemia ?
Idiopathic
Congenital - Franconia anaemia
Drugs - cytotoxics
Toxins
Infections
Radiation
What is autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
May be divided into warm and cold types according to what temperature the antibodies best cause haemolysis.
What causes autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
Idiopathic
Secondary to lymphoproliferative disorder, infection or drugs
What investigations are performed for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
FBC
Blood film
Coombs’ test
What is warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
Most common type
The antibody causes haemolysis best at body temperature and haemolysis tends to occur in extra vascular sites.
What are some causes of warm autoimmune haemolytic disorder ?
Idiopathic
Autoimmune disease
Neoplasia
Drugs
What is the management of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
Steroids +/- rituximab
What causes cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia ?
Neoplasia - lymphoma
Infections - mycoplasma, EBV
What are some features of beta thalassaemia major ?
Presents in the first year of life with failure to thrive and hepatosplenomegaly
Microcytic anaemia
HbA absent
What is the management of beta thalassaemia major ?
Repeated transfusion -
Can lead to iron overload - and then organ failure
Iron chelation therapy
What is beta thalassaemia trait ?
A group of genetic disorders characterised by a reduced production rate of either alpha or beta chains.
Autosomal recessive
What are some features of beta thalassaemia trait /
Mild hypochromic microcytic anaemia
HbA2 raised
What do target cells on a blood film indicate ?
Sickle cell
Iron deficiency anaemia
Hyposplenism
Liver disease
What do tear drop poikilocytes on a blood film indicate ?
Myelofibrosis
What do spherocytes on a blood film indicate ?
Hereditary spherocytosis
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
What does basophilic stripping on a blood film indicate ?
Lead poisoning
Thalassaemia
Sideroblastic anaemia
Myelodysplasia
What do Howell jolly bodies on a blood film indicate ?
Hyposplenism
What do heinz bodies on a blood film indicate ?
G6PD deficiency
Alpha thalassaemia
What do schistocytes on a blood film indicate ?
DIC
Intravascular haemolysis
What is non-haemolytic febrile reaction ?
From a blood transfusion
Caused by antibodies reacting with white cell fragments in the blood product and cytokines that have leaked from the blood cells during storage.
What are some features of non-haemolytic febrile reaction ?
Fever
Chills
What is the management of non-haemolytic febrile reaction ?
Slow or stop the transfusion
Paracetamol
Monitor
How can anaphylaxis be caused in patients having a blood transfusion ?
Can be caused by patients with IgA deficiency who have anti-IgA antibodies
What is the management of anaphylaxis while having a blood transfusion ?
Stop the transfusion
IM adrenaline
ABC support - oxygen and fluids
What can cause transfusion - associated circulatory overload ?
Excessive rate of transfusion and a pre-existing heart failure
What is the management of transfusion - associated circulatory overload ?
Slow or stop the transfusion
Consider IV loop diuretics ( furosemide )
What is transfusion related acute lung injury ?
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema thought to be secondary to increased vascular permeability caused by host neutrophils that become activated by substances in donated blood.
What is the management of transfusion related acute lung injury ?
Stop the transfusion
O2 and supportive care
What are packed red cells ?
Transfusion in chronic anaemia and cases where infusion of large volumes of fluid may result in cardiovascular compromise.
What is fresh frozen plasma ?
Prepared from single units of blood
Contains clotting factors, albumin and immunoglobulin
What is burkitt’s lymphoma ?
High grade B cell neoplasm
What is seen on microscopy in burkitt’s lymphoma ?
Starry sky appearance : lymphocyte sheets interspersed with macrophages
What is the management of Burkitt’s lymphoma ?
Chemotherapy
Rasburicase is given before chemotherapy
What are some complications of tumour lysis syndrome ?
Hyperkalaemia
Hyperphosphataemia
Hypocalcaemia
Acute renal failure
What is factor V Leiden ?
Most common inherited thrombophilia.
Activated protein C resistance
What does factor V Leiden increase the risk of ?
Venous thrombosis
What is G6PD deficiency ?
Commonest red blood cell enzyme defect
What is the pathophysiology of G6PD deficiency ?
Decreases G6PD = reduced NADPH = reduced glutathione = increased red cell susceptibility to oxidative stress
What are some features of G6PD deficiency ?
Neonatal jaundice
Intravascular haemolysis
Gallstones
Splenomegaly
Heinz bodies I
What are some drugs that cause haemolysis ?
Primaquine
Ciprofloxacin
Sulphasalazine
Sulfonylurea
What inheritance is G6PD deficiency ?
X linked recessive
When does graft versus host disease occur ?
When T cells in the donor tissue mount an immune response toward recipient cells.
What features are present in graft versus host disease ?
Painful maculopapular rash
Jaundice
Watery or bloody diarrhoea
Persistent nausea and vomiting
What is the management of graft versus host disease ?
Immunosuppression and supportive measures
IV steroids
Anti-TNF
What can EBV increase the risk of ?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Burkitt’s lymphoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
What can H.Pylori increase the risk of ?
Gastric lyphoma ( MALT )
What are some hereditary causes of haemolytic anaemia ?
Hereditary spherocytosis / elliptocytosis
G6PD deficiency
Sickle cell
What are acquired immune causes of haemolytic anaemia ?
Warm / cold antibody type
Transfusion reaction
Haemolytic disease of a newborn
What are acquired non-immune causes of haemolytic anaemia ?
Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
Prosthetic heart valves
What are some Intravascular causes of haemolytic anaemia ?
Mismatched blood
G6PD deficiency
DIC
What are some extra vascular causes of haemolytic anaemia ?
Sickle cell
Thalassaemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
Haemolytic disease of a newborn
What is haemophilia ?
X linked recessive disorder of coagulation
What factor is deficient in haemophilia A ?
Factor 8
What factor is deficient in haemophilia B ?
Lack of 9
What are the features of haemophilia ?
Haemoarthroses
Haematomas
Prolonged bleeding
What is seen on the blood tests in haemophilia ?
Prolonged APTT
Normal bleeding time, thrombin time, prothrombin time
What is hereditary angioedema ?
An autosomal dominant condition associated with low plasma levels of the C1 inhibitor protein.
What are some symptoms of hereditary angioedema ?
Attacks may be proceeded by painful macular rash
Painless non-pruritic swelling of subcut/submucosal tissues
What is the management of hereditary angioedema ?
IV C1-inhibitor concentrate, fresh frozen plasma
Prophylactic anabolic steroid Danazol may help