Haematology Flashcards
Pluripotent haematopoietic stem cell can differentiated in to which 3 cells?
Myeloid stem cells
Lymphoid stem cells
Dendritic cells (via different intermediate stages)
what is the lifespan of RBC?
4 months (120days)
what is the lifespan of platelets and their normal count ?
ten days
150 – 450 x 109/L
define anaemia
low concentration of haemoglobin in the blood.
what are the normal ranges for Haemoglobin and MCV for male and female
The mean cell volume (MCV) refers to the size of the red blood cells
what kind of anaemia can be shown base on the MCV?
Microcytic anaemia (low MCV)
Normocytic anaemia (normal MCV)
Macrocytic anaemia (large MCV)
What are the cause of microcytic anaemia?
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Iron deficiency anaemia
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic anaemia
what is chronic anaemia can associate with what other disease condition?
*Explain why
* treatment
Chronic kidney disease because it reduced the production of erythropoietin by the kidneys (hormone that responsible for stimulating RBC production)
Treatment –> erythropoietin
what are the causes for normocytic anaemia
There are 3 As and 2 Hs for normocytic anaemia:
A – Acute blood loss
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
A – Aplastic anaemia
H – Haemolytic anaemia
H – Hypothyroidism
What is megaloblastic and normoblastic and what are the causes of them?
megaloblastic and normoblastic are part of the Macrocytic anaemia
Megaloblastic anaemia is caused by:
- B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
Normoblastic macrocytic anaemia is caused by:
Alcohol
Reticulocytosis (usually from haemolytic anaemia or blood loss)
Hypothyroidism
Liver disease
Drugs, such as azathioprine
Define reticulocytosis
increased concentration of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells)
what are the symptoms of anaemia?
Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Headaches
Dizziness
Palpitations
Worsening of other conditions, such as angina, heart failure or peripheral arterial disease
For iron deficiency anaemia:
- Pica (dietary cravings for abnormal things, such as dirt or soil)
- Hair loss
Signs you can see in patient with anaemia
Generic signs of anaemia include:
Pale skin
Conjunctival pallor
Tachycardia
Raised respiratory rate
Signs of specific causes of anaemia include:
- Koilonychia refers to spoon-shaped nails and can indicate iron deficiency anaemia
- Angular cheilitis can indicate iron deficiency anaemia
- Atrophic glossitis is a smooth tongue due to atrophy of the papillae and can indicate iron deficiency anaemia
- Brittle hair and nails can indicate iron deficiency anaemia
- Jaundice can indicate haemolytic anaemia
- Bone deformities can indicate thalassaemia
- Oedema, hypertension and excoriations on the skin can indicate chronic kidney disease
What investigations you can do in the blood test?
- Colonoscopy and oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) are indicated for unexplained iron deficiency anaemia
- Bone marrow biopsy is indicated for unexplained anaemia or possible malignancy (e.g., leukaemia or myeloma)
What causes iron deficiency
mainly Blood loss
> menorrhagia (heavy periods)
> blood loss in the GI
Insufficient dietary iron (e.g., restrictive diets)
Reduced iron absorption (e.g., coeliac disease)
Increased iron requirements (e.g., pregnancy)
Loss of iron through bleeding (e.g., from a peptic ulcer or bowel cancer)
explain the mechanisms of reduce iron adsorption in the stomach
Iron is mainly absorbed in the duodenum and jejunum
Inflammation of the duodenum / jejunum (coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease) can also reduce iron absorption.
Medications i.e. PPI can intefere with ron absorption
requires the acid from the stomach to keep the iron in the soluble ferrous (Fe2+) form. When the stomach contents are less acidic, it changes to the insoluble ferric (Fe3+) form.
what to test for patient that have iron deficiency ?
serum iron
serum ferritin
haemoglobin and haematocrit
FBC
MCV
total iron-binding capacity
MCH
MCHC
what could iron overload result in ?
Haemochromatosis
Iron supplements
Acute liver damage (the liver contains lots of iron)
how to manage patient with iron deficiency
Oral iron (e.g., ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate)
Iron infusion (e.g., IV CosmoFer)
Blood transfusion (in severe anaemia)
side effect of using oral iron and iron infusions
Oral iron
rise in haemoglobin of 20grams in the first month
constipation &black stools
iron infusions
small risk of allergic reaction and anaphylaxis
avoided during infection
Define haemolytic anaemia
destruction of red blood cells (haemolysis), resulting in a low haemoglobin concentration (anaemia)
Features of haemolytic anaemia
- Anaemia
fatigue
SOB
dizziness - Splenomegaly (the spleen becomes filled with destroyed red blood cells)
- Jaundice (bilirubin is released during the destruction of red blood cells)
what investigation for haemolytic anaemia patient?
Full blood count shows a normocytic anaemia
Blood film shows schistocytes (fragments of red blood cells)
Direct Coombs test is positive in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (not in other types)
What are the causes of haemolytic anaemia?
Hereditary spherocytosis
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Thalassaemia
Sickle cell anaemia
G6PD deficiency
What are the key findings in hereditary spherocytosis?
What is the treatment for it as well?
Findings:
Raised Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) on a full blood count
Raised reticulocyte count
spherocytes on a blood film
TREATMENT:
folate supplementation, blood transfusion
possible splenectomy / cholecystectomy
The different of hereditary spherocytosis and Hereditary elliptocytosis
both are autosomal dominant
have same presentation and management
hereditary spherocytosis - fragile, sphere-shaped RBC
Hereditary elliptocytosis - fragile, ellipse-shaped