Haematology Flashcards
How long does it take to produce a neutrophil?
7-10 days
What is the quickest response for releasing neutrophils?
Demargination
Give some causes of neutrophilia
Infection/inflammation Steroids, adrenaline, GCSE Cold/heat/surgery Myeloprofilerative disorder Malignancy
What is the lifespan of a neutrophil?
12-18 hours
What is GCSF used for?
It stops the WCC dropping too low during chemotherapy
Therefore can be a cause of neutrophilia
Give some causes of neutropenia
Chemotherapy agents Anticonvulsants, carbimazole, IBD meds Viral infection BM failure Immune mediated - SLE
Give some causes of lymphocytosis
Viral infections: EBV, CMV, influenza Leukaemia, lymphoma MI Sickle cell crisis Trauma RA Splenectomy
What is the commonest cause of a >6 week lymphocytosis?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Give some causes of a lymphopenia
Malignancy - Hodgkin’s or NHL RA, SLE Chemotherapy Burns Anorexia nervosa Renal or liver failure Sarcoidosis Aplastic anaemia Myelodysplatic syndromes
Give some causes of eosinophilia
Allergic conditions:asthma, eczema, hayfever
Allergic reaction to medication
Parasites; tapeworm, hookworm, schistosomiasis
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Sarcoidosis
Irradiation
What is aquagenic pruritus?
Itching when exposed to hot water
What is polycythaemia Vera?
All blood cell types are produced excessively
Particular increase in the RBCs
This is a myeloproliferative neoplasm
Linked with JAK2 mutation
What do smear cells indicate?
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Define leukaemia
A group of disorders that are characterised by the accumulation of malignant white cells in the bone marrow (primarily) and peripheral blood
How can we tell if BM failure is acute or chronic?
Mature cells present if chronic
Immature cells present if acute
Is CLL curable?
No
CLL is a disorder of which cells?
B cells
B1
How might CLL present?
Insidious onset Recurrent infections Enlarged LNs Mucocutaneous bleeding Tiredness and fatigue
Are B symptoms common in CLL?
No
What are the B symptoms?
Fever
Weight loss
Night sweats
What degree of weight loss is considered worrying?
> 10% in the last 6 months
Give a differential diagnosis for low Hb, low WCC and low platelets
Acute leukaemia until proven otherwise : ALL/AML
Aplastic anaemia
B12 deficiency
What is the purpose of flow cytometry?
To see if the lineage is lymphoid or myeloid
What blood tests need doing if you suspect DIC?
PT
APTT
Fibrinogen
How many days from diagnosis do you have to treat a haematological malignancy?
7 days
What are the signs of leukostasis?
Respiratory distress
Decreased mental status
Priapism
What gene diagnoses CML and how do we detect it?
BCR-ABL
FISH
What disease is the Philadelphia chromosome linked to?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
What is the management of CML?
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
BM transplant
What age groups get Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
15-30 years
>60 years
What proportion of patients have B symptoms in Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Third
What other disease is Hodgkin’s linked to?
EBV exposure
What is the prognosis for Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Good
80% cure
What is the management of Hodgkin’s?
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy ABVD combo
What medicines are in the ABVD combo?
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Bleomycin
Vinblastine
Dacarbazine
Describe the Ann Arbor Staging
I = 1 LN region II = 2 + LN regions III = 2+ LN regions on different sides of diaphragm IV = extralymphatic spread
What are the classic 3 signs of myeloma?
Anaemia
Back pain
High ESR
Myeloma makes what type of bone lesions?
Lytic
How do we diagnose myeloma?
Histology >10% plasma cells in BM
Paraprotein or excess light chains
Myeloma related organ dysfunction
What is the management of myeloma?
Steroids - dexamethasone
Chemo - cyclophosphamide
Thalidomide
Proteasome inhibitors
What is the CRAB mnemonic for myeloma?
C - calcium increase
R - renal insufficiency
A - anaemia
B - bone lesions
Why can tinnitus occur in severe anaemia?
Hyperdynamic circulation
Name some causes of microcytic anaemia
Iron deficiency Anaemia of chronic disease Thalassaemia Hereditary spherocytosis Sideroblastic anaaemia Hodgkin’s disease
What is dysfunctional in haemochromatosis?
DMT 1 transporters are overzealous in the duodenum