Haematology

Question 1

What is a normal INR?

Answer 1

0.8-1.2

Question 2

What blood tests results are seen in DIC?

Answer 2

High APTT, high INR, low fibrinogen, low platelets, high d-dimer

Question 3

What are 3 complications of acute leukaemia?

Answer 3

DIC, febrile neutropaenia and leukostasis

Question 4

What are the 3 specific transfusions for DIC?

Answer 4

FFP to lower INR 1.5
Platelets with aim of over 50
Cryoprecipitate to get fibrinogen over 1.5

Question 5

What are the criteria for febrile neutropaenia?

Answer 5

Temp over 38

PMNs less than 1

Question 6

Which leukaemia has auer rods?

Answer 6

AML

Question 7

Which leukaemia has cytoplasmic granules?

Answer 7

AML

Question 8

How are ALLs treated?

Answer 8

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Question 9

What is the notation for the Philadelphia chromosome?

Answer 9

t(9;22)

Question 10

Which leukaemias are associated with the Philadelphia chromosome?

Answer 10

ALL and CML

Question 11

What is the treatment for CML?

Answer 11

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Question 12

Which is the most common leukaemia?

Answer 12

CLL

Question 13

classification of micro/normo/macrocytic anaemias

Answer 13

micro MCV less than 80
normo MCV 80-100
macro MCV more than 100

Question 14

Main causes of macrocytic anaemia

Answer 14

ABCDEF
Alcohol
B12 deficiency
Compensatory reticulocytosis
Drugs
Endocrine  (hypothyroidism)
Folate/fetus

myelodysplasia

Question 15

Main causes of microcytic anaemia

Answer 15

TAILS
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease 
Iron-deficiency anaemia  
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic anaemia

Question 16

Main causes of normocytic anaemia

Answer 16

ABCD
Acute haemorrhage
Bone marrow failure
Chronic disease (eg renal failure)
Destruction (haemolytic, sickle cell, autoimmune, aplastic)

Question 17

What does cryoprecipitate contain?

Answer 17

Fibrinogen

Question 18

What does FFP contain?

Answer 18

All coagulation factors

Question 19

what are B symptoms?

Answer 19

Weight loss (more than 10% of baseline weight in 6 month period)
Temperature (more than 38)
Drenching night sweats

Question 20

What is the normal amount of blasts in the bone marrow?

Answer 20

Less than 5%

Question 21

What is the definition of acute leukaemia?

Answer 21

More than 20% of cells in bone marrow are blasts

Question 22

What causes leukostasis in acute leukaemia?

Answer 22

So many blasts in the blood –> blood very thick

Question 23

Cause of CML?

Answer 23

Philadelphia chromosome. t(9;22) of BCR and ABL causes constitutively activated tyrosine kinase –> cell growth

Question 24

What is Glivec?

Answer 24

Imatinib. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for Rx of CML

Question 25

CLL is the same disease as…?

Answer 25

small lymphocytic lymphoma

Question 26

how do you reverse warfarin

Answer 26

prothrombinex +/- Vit K and FFP

Question 27

What are the two main causes of microcytic anaemia?

Answer 27

Iron deficiency and thalasaemia

Question 28

What is the diameter of a platelet cell?

Answer 28

2-4 um

Question 29

What converts fibrinogen → fibrin?

Answer 29

Thrombin

Question 30

If someone has conjunctival pallor, what will their Hb be?

Answer 30

Less than 70 or 80

Question 31

What is the generic name for Clexane?

Answer 31

enoxaparin

Question 32

What are the 3 stages of myeloma and what defines them?

Answer 32

1 MGUS monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance

2 Smouldering myeloma
M-protein (aka paraprotein) more than 30 g/L
AND/OR
More than 10% of bone marrow cells are plasma cells

3 Multiple myeloma
Smouldering myeloma plus end organ damage (CRAB)

Question 33

What are examples of end organ damage in multiple myeloma?

Answer 33

CRAB symptoms

Hypercalcaemia
Renal failure
Anaemia
Bone lytic lesions