Haematology Flashcards
Why is ferritin high in anaemic of chronic disease?
The body stores iron outside the blood as it wants to keep it away from bacteria or blood loss
What is the size of the RBCs in haemolytic anaemia?
normal sized
What size are the RBCs in iron deficiency anaemia?
microcytic
Which condition is positive for the philadelphia chromosome?
chronic myeloid leukaemia
What are the features of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Anaemia, weight loss, splenomegaly
What is the first line treatment of CML?
Imatinib
What is the management of hyperkalaemia?
Insulin and dextrose solution
What is the mechanism behind an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
RBC destruction by IgM-type antibodies - causes fever, abdopain, hypotension (ABO incompatibility)
What are the presenting features of myeloma?
CRABBI.
Hypercalcaemia, renal damage, anaemia, bleeding, bones, infection
What is myeloma?
A cancer of plasma cells
What investigations do you use to test for myeloma?
- blood film - rouleaux formation
- protein electrophoresis - Bence Jones proteins, raised IgA/IgG in serum
What are the features on blood test in beta-thalassaemia major?
HbA2 (variant haemoglobin with delta chains) and HbF (foetal haemoglobin) raised and HbA (normal haemoglobin) absent
What is the management of beta-thalassaemia major?
- repeated transfusion with iron chelation therapy (desferrioxamine)
What test is used to confirm an acute haemolytic reaction?
Direct coombs test
What does rhesus positive mean?
The RBCs have the rhesus antigen on them
What rhesus statuses are bad in pregnancy?
Mum - negative
Baby - positive
What happens if a mum is rhesus negative and the baby is positive?
In first child - nothing
In second - anti-D antibodies cross the placental membrane, they attack baby’s RBCs and cause haemolytic disease of the newborn