Haematology Flashcards
Results of which of the following will identify that a patient is iron deficient?
-Hb
-MCV
-MCH
-ferritin
-transferrin saturation
Ferritin
Ferritin corresponds to iron storage. Low ferritin tells you a patient has iron deficiency.
When do ferritin levels not correspond to iron deficiency?
If the person has inflammation e.g. pneumonia, they can have ferritin in the normal range, but this doesn’t actual mean they haven’t got iron deficiency. Test again when patient has recovered.
Which of the following would be used to treat iron deficiency in an adult?
Ferrous fumarate 210mg od
Note: in children you can use ferrous edetate bc they might not tolerate tablets but this can stain teeth.
All patients with iron deficiency should also be screened for coeliac disease
If patient has surgery of proximal jejunum, what type of anaemia would you expect in this patient?
Microcytic anaemia
- Iron is transported to the red cytosol
2.Iron combines with porphyrin ring - The formation of haem
- Combines with globin (alpha or beta)
- Globulin subunits combine to form tetrameric haemoglobin
Which of the following tests help you distinguish between poor compliance and blood loss?
-ferritin
-reticulocyte count
-MCV
-erythropoietin level
Reticulocytosis count
If reticulocytosis is occurring you know compliance is occurring in patients with low iron, even if they are losing blood.
Reticulocytosis count would be low in poor compliance.
A 50 year old man presents with a macrocytic anaemia, he has positive intrinsic factor antibodies and a diagnosis of pernicious anaemia is made. Is this correct?
Yes
positive intrinsic factor antibodies in a patient with macrocytic anaemia indicates that the patient has pernicious anaemia
Where does the absorption of B12-intrinsic factor complex take place?
Ileum
The gastric parietal cells produce intrinsic factor
How do you treat pernicious anaemia?
IM B12
What causes pernicious anaemia?
autoantibodies target either the parietal cells or intrinsic factor, resulting in a lack of intrinsic factor and a lack of absorption of vitamin B12
Other than pernicious anaemia, what else causes B12 deficiency?
-dietary intake (vegan/veggie)
-pancreatitis
-malabsorption/coeliac
-high dose of PPIs
Where is folate absorbed?
Jejunum
A patient with liver disease has a prolonged prothrombin time (PT). Which factor of the coagulation cascade is most likely to be deficient?
Factor 7
PT measures the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade which is activated when there’s tissue injury or damage. Factor 7 is the first clotting factor activated in this pathway and it has the shortest half life of all the factors in the coagulation cascade.
What measures the time taken for fibrin to clot via the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade?
Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)
The intrinsic pathway is activated when there is endothelial injury or damage.
What is the most likely cause of her symptoms?
-anaemia of chronic disease
-Megaloblastic anaemia
-Sideroblastic anaemia
-haemolytic anaemia
-iron deficiency anaemia
Which of the following is the most likely cause of his acute haemolytic anaemia?
-auto immune haemolytic anaemia
-acute lymphoblastic anaemia
-haemophilia A
-G6PD deficiency
-sickle cell anaemia