Haematology Flashcards
What causes urticaria?
IgE reacting with foreign material
Approaching urticaria reaction to blood transfusion
Slow transfusion rate and give antihistamine
Approaching anaphylactic reaction to blood transfusion
ABCDE Stop infusion Oxygen IM adrenaline IV hydrocortisone IV fluids
Microcytic anaemia causes
Stop Those Incy Little Cells
Sideroblastic Thalasaemia Iron deficiency Lead poisoning Chronic disease
Normocytic anaemia causes
Medium Red Blood Cells
Marrow failure
Renal failure
Blood loss
Chronic disease
Macrocytic anaemia causes
FAT RBCs
Folate deficiency Alcohol Thaimine deficiency Reticulocytosis B12 deficiency Cytotoxic drugs and Cirrhosis Smoking
Symptoms of anaemia
Lethargy Headaches SOB Palpitations Angina
Blood tests in anaemia
FBC U&E LFTs CRP Blood film Haematimics
Further tests in anaemia
BMB
GI endoscopy
Three causes of iron deficiency anaemia
Lack of intake
Malabs
Loss
Causes of lack of iron intake
Diet
Causes of malabsorption of iron
Coeliac disease
Gastrectomy
Causes of iron loss
GI bleed - upper / lower - Ca / Inflam / Infection / Ulcer
Menstruation
Specific clinical signs of iron deficiency anaemia
Spooning of nails
Angular stomatitis
Glossitis
Side effects of iron therapy
Black stools, change in bowel habits, abdo pain, nausea
Iron replacement therapy - aim for rise in Hn
2g/dl every 3 weeks
3 causes of B12 deficiency anaemia
Lack of intake - diet
Malabsorption - pernicious anaemia, gastrectomy
Neurological complications of B12 deficiency
Subacute combined degeneration of the cord - weakness, ataxia and paraplegia
Peripheral neuropathy
Parasthesia
Treatment of B12 deficiency
Injections of B12 - will not fix the cord degeneration
4 cause of folate deficiency
Increased requirement - preganancy
Insufficient intake - diet
Malabsorption - crohns, coeliac
Drugs - methotrexate
Extra tests if suspect folate deficiency
Jejunal biopsy - look for coeliac disease
BM aspirate
What does folate deficiency often come with?
Vit B12 deficiency
Where are RBC destroyed extravascularly in haemolytic anaemia (4)
Spleen
Marrow
Liver
Phagocytes
Two classifications of reticulocytosis
Intravascular and extravascular
3 types of cellular defects causing haemolytic anaemia
Metabolic - pyruvate kinase
Cell membrane - hereditary spherocytosis
Hb dysfunction - thalassaemia, sickle cell
Immune causes of haemolytic anaemia (2)
autoimmune
drug induced
Non immune causes of heamolytic anaemia
heart valves DIC Drugs Toxins Infections Renal / Liver disease
target cell may indicate
thalassaemia
Heiz bodies are
fragments of Hb
Clinical features of haemolytic anaemia (5)
Splenomegaly Jaundice Dark urine Pallor Pigment gallstones
Hereditary spherocytosis inheritance type
autosomal dominant
Thalassaemia inheritance type
autosomal recessive
How many genes affected in hydrop fatalis?
4
How long does beta thalassaemia major take to become symptomatic from birth? and why does it take that long?
3-6 months as the fetal Hb is no longer made
What can be currative in beta thalassaemia?
bone marrow transplant
main way thalassaemia is treated?
blood transfusions
inheritance of sickle cell
autosomal recessive
4 types of sick cell crisis
Vaso occlusive
Aplastic
Haemolytic
Visceral sequestration
Blood test in suspected sick cell crisis
RBC U&E LFTs Bilirubin LDH ABG
Bed side tests in suspected sick cell crisis
Urine analysis
Sputum analysis
Blood culture
Further test in sickle cell crisis
Blood film
Acute treatment of sick cell crisis
ABCDE Fluids Pain relief Antibiotics if infection \+/- blood transfusion
Prevention of a sickcell crisis
Vaccinations
Penicillin
Avoid triggers
Test to detect antibodies again RBC
Indirect Coombs
In Acute thrombocytopenic purpura what do the autoantibodies target?
antigens on platelet surface
Clinical features of Acute thrombocytopenic purpura
Epistaxis
Brusing under the skin
Menorrhagia
Gingivitis
At what platelet level should Acute thrombocytopenic purpura be treated?
<30
How should Acute thrombocytopenic purpura be treated?
Steroids and immunoglobulin infusion
Haemophilia A is due to a deficiency in?
Haemophilia B is due to a deficiency in?
factor 8
factor 9
In haemophilia - blood result
APTT
PT
vWF
elongated
normal
normal
Treatment of:
Haemophilia A
Haemophilia B
desmopressin and factor 8
factor 9
vWD - blood results
APTT
PT
Factor 8
vW factor
Elongated
Normal
reduced
decreased
Treatment of VWD
vWF concentrate
vasopressin infusions
cyroprecipitate
FFP
DIC =
pathological activation of coagulation
results in bleeding and microvascular thrombosis
Causes of DIC
Infection Malignancy Obstetrics Anaphylaxis Liver disease
Blood results in DIC
APTT
PT
TT
Fibrinogen
Raised
Raised
Raised
Lower
Why is there bleeding in DIC ?
Depletion of platelets and clotting factors due to lots of clots being made systemically