Haematology Flashcards
Guidelines for giving fresh frozen plasma (FFP)?
in patients with a prothrombin time (PT) ratio or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ratio > 1.5
Guidelines for giving cryoprecipitate?
most suited for patients for ‘clinically significant’ but without ‘major haemorrhage’ who have a fibrinogen concentration < 1.5 g/L
Investigation of choice for myeloma?
serum protein electrophoresis or urinary Bence-Jones protein should be the investigations of choice.
What is myeloma?
Neoplasm of the bone marrow PLASMA cells. (hence plasmacytoma being one of the major criteria to diagnose).
Name the main features of myeloma?
C- calcium raised
R- renal failure and raised ESR
A- anaemia
B- bone pain- osteoporosis + fractures
Name some other features of myeloma?
amyloidosis e.g. Macroglossia, carpal tunnel syndrome; neuropathy; hyperviscosity
What is raised in the blood in myeloma? (think auto-inflamm)
ESR
How can you confirm DIC?
prothrombin time is prolonged suggesting a tendency to bleed
fibrinogen levels have been used up for clot formation
significantly high D-dimer level suggest that the patient’s body is working hard to disperse clots
What does warfarin prolong- blood test wise?
PT (when someone is having a bleed you give prothrombin complex remember so just think of the opposite of this)
What does heparin prolong- blood test wise?
APTT
What clues may indicate a diagnosis of von willebrand?
Bleeding post operatively, epistaxis and menorrhagia may indicate a diagnosis of vWD. So increased bleeding time + increased APTT = von willebrand.
What test is key to diagnosing acquired haemophilia?
Prolonged APTT
What tests are prolonged in vitamin K deficiency?
Prolonged PT and APTT
How do you investigate an unprovoked DVT?
Offer all patients diagnosed with unprovoked DVT or PE who are not already known to have cancer the following investigations for cancer:
a physical examination (guided by the patient’s full history) and
a chest X-ray and
blood tests (full blood count, serum calcium and liver function tests) and urinalysis.
consider testing for antiphospholipid antibodies if unprovoked DVT or PE
In sickle cell, what does a sudden anaemia and a low reticulocyte (immature RBC) indicate?
Infection with parvovirus
Diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis?
Osmotic fragility test
Why are irradiated blood products used in transplant patients?
They are depleted of T lymphocytes.
What is cryoprecipitate made up of?
Factor 8 (majority), fibrinogen, vwb factor and factor 13