Haematology Flashcards
What are the primary sites of haematopoiesis prior to birth?
- Liver
- Spleen
What does a “left shift” describe, with regards to haematopoiesis?
- Increased number of immature blood cells
- Increase in band neutrophils
What is the most common cause for a left shift in blood production?
Infection
What are the two types of bone marrows and how do they differ?
Red Marrow: Haematopoietic
Yellow Marrow; Fatty tissue, not haematopoietic
What is the function of stem cell factors and what produces it?
Production: Stromal cells
Function: Promotes all haematopoiesis
what is the function of granlocyte monocyte stimulating factor (GM-CSF)?
Production: Endothelial cells + T cells
Function: Mitosis and differentiation of granulocyte cells
When is synthetic GM-CSF given?
IV Sargramostim
Given after bone marrow transplantation to treat neutropaenia
What is the function of granulocyte colony stimulating factor?
Promotes mitosis, differentiation, and activity of granulocyte colony-forming units; promotes neutrophil activity
Available as a recombinant DNA form (filgrastim injection), which is used to treat neutropenia following chemotherapy or radiation therapy
When is synthetic G-CSF given?
Available as a recombinant DNA form (filgrastim injection), which is used to treat neutropenia following chemotherapy or radiation therapy
What is the life span of erythrocytes?
120 days
Enters peripheral blood as reticulocytes
What does an elevated reticulocyte count suggest?
Increased reticulocytes = increased erythropoiesis
e.g. incrased haemolysis
What does a decreased reticulocyte count suggest?
Decreased reticulocytes = decreased erythropoiesis
(e.g. aplastic anaemia)
What are the reference ranges for haemoglobin?
♂ 13.5–17.5 g/dL
♀ 12–16 g/dL
What does the mean corpuscle volume measure?
Average volume of one red blood cell
- What does an increased MCV suggest?
- What does a decreased MCV suggest?
- Increased: macrocytic red blood cells - vitamin B 12 deficiecny
- Decreased: microcytic red blood cells - iron deficiecny