Haematology Flashcards
Uni of Leeds Lectures
Causes of splenomegaly
C- Cancer
H - Haematology (CML, Myelofibrosis, CLL, Hairy cell Leukaemia, Beta Thalassemia)
I - Infection (Schistosomiasis, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, EBV)
C - Congestive (Liver disease/Portal)
A - Autoimmune (haemolysis, SLE)
G - Glycogen Storage disorders
O - Other (amyloid, sarcoid)
CML is characterised by
Increased granulocytes, splenomegaly and anaemia.
It occurs due to cytogenic abberation (philadelphia chromosome 22) resulting in BCR-ABL fusion.
CML is treated with what type of medication
Imatinib (gleevac) which is a tyrosine kinase inhibitior as the BCR-ABL product is a tyrosine kinase.
What are the symptoms of CML and causes of them?
Abdominal discomfort/pain due to Splenomegaly and Splenic infarct
Fatigue due to anaemia, catabolic state
Gout due to hyperuricaemia
Venous occlusion from DVT, retinal vein or priapism
There are currently no reported cases of imatinib resistance. True or False?
False. activating loop mutions in bcr-abl confer resistance & loss of disease control
How long to RBCs last for?
120 days
How long can RBCs for transfusion be stored for
35 days
What are the indications for RBC transfusion
Bleeding, acute/chronic/sever symptomatic anaemia
Platelets can be collected in which ways?
A)Pooled
1 unit from 1 whole blood
4-6 units pooled together usually form diff donors into a single pack
B)Apheresis
Apheresis machine used, platelets removed & all other blood returned to the donor. This is equivalent to 4-6 units from random donors.
Usual transfusion time for RBC & Platelets
RBCs: (1.5-3 hours) Max 4 hours
Platelets: 30mins/Unit
Dose for adult recieving platelets
4-6 units
This is equivalent to pooled platelets (4-6) or a single round of apheresis
Shelf life of platelets
5 days
Indications for transfusion with platelets
Treatment/Prevention of bleeding due to severe thrombocytopenia
Prevention of bleeding can be for cases of prophylaxis for surgery or bone marrow failure
Contraindication for transfusion of platelets
Immune thromobocytopenia Prupura
Thrombotic thromobocytopenia Prupura
Heparin induced thromobocytopenia & thrombosis
Types of plasma transfusion
A. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP); stored at -30 degree celcius. liquid portion of whole blood. It is used to treat conditions in which there are low blood clotting factors (INR>1.5) or low levels of other blood proteins.
B. Cryoperciptate; stored at -30 degree celcius, 3 yr shelf life if frozen. contains: vWF, factor VIII and XIII
C. Fractionations of e.g. albumin, immunoglobulin, factor complexes (VII, IX, prothrombin complex)
Fresh Frozen plasma and cryopercipitate indications
A. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP);
Indication: Bleeding with clotting factor deficiencies/abnormalities OR prophylaxis for surgery for ppl with abnormal clotting results
B. Cryoperciptate;
Indications: source of fibrinogen in acquired coagulopathies i.e. massive haemorrhage, DIC
How to reverse warfarin?
Prothrombin complex cencentrate (factor IX concentrate) that contains II, VII, IX, X, Vit K (i.e. vit K dependent factors)
Fresh frozen plasma can be used to reverse warfarin. TRUE/False
False. Prothrombin complex cencentrate (factor IX concentrate) that contains II, VII, IX, X, Vit K (i.e. vit K dependent factors)
Fresh Frozen plasma indications and contraindications
A. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP);
Indication: Bleeding with clotting factor deficiencies/abnormalities OR prophylaxis for surgery for ppl with abnormal clotting results
Contraindications: single factor deficiencies, to correct abnormal clotting in ppl that arent bleeding, to reverse warfarin
Risks of transfusion can be
immunological or non-immunological
Transfusion reactions are known as delayed if they occur: A. >6hours B. >12hours C.>24hours D.>36hours E.>48hours
C - 24 hours
<24hours is acute transfusion reaction
Types of non-immunological transfusion reaction
Transfusion transmitted viral/prion infection
Transfusion transmitted bacterial infection
Transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO)
Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction
Transfusion transmitted prion infection can be prevented with
Methylene Blue
usually the prion is vCJD (no case since 1999)
Types of immunological transfusion reactions
Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction
Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction
Post transfusion purpura
Allergic/anaphylactic reaction
Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI)
Transfusion associated graft vs. host disease (TA-GvHD)
Prevention of Acute haemolytic transfusion reaction is done by
1) Pre-transfusion testing of: ABO group, Rh (D) status and RBC antigen detection
2) Cross-matching (only for RBC transfusions); mix patient blood with aliqoutes of donor blood to see if there are any signs of cross reactivity
Delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction
due to post-transfusion formation of IgG ab against RBC antigens other than ABO
Direct anti-globulin test is used to detect
antibodies on the surface of RBCs (Coomb’s) as anti(h)-globulin adhere together with RBCs to form visible agglutinations
Who is at increased risk of anaphylactic reaction related to trasfusion reactions
ppl with IgA deficiency or anti-IgA antibody
Criterion for Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) diagnosis
sudden onset of acute lung injury within 6 hours of transfusion
Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) occurs due to
anti-HLA and anti-HNA
Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) can be prevented by
taking plasma only from male donors
bec risk of anti-HLA higher in females with prev pregnancies
Testing for haemoglobinpathies
Antenatal: booking visit discuss and screen parents
Prenatal: High risk preg = counsilling and offer prenatal diagnostic test (chronic villus biopsy and genetic testing at 8-12 weeks) +/- termination
Postnatal: 5 days post-partem (heal prick test)
Haematological changes during preg
*Macrocytic anaemia and physiological anaemia:
1. Plasma expansion by up to 50%
2. Red cell mass expands by 25%
3. haemodilution occurs maximally at 32 weeks.
4. Mean cell volume increases physiologically
*Leukocytosis
Mainly a neutrophilia, rising from the 2nd month to a peak range of around 9-15 in the 2nd-3rd trimester
Left shift may also be seen (myelocytes/metamyelocytes)
*Gestational thrombocytopenia
No pathological significance for mother or fetus
Recovers rapidly following delivery
Main issue in management is differentiation from other causes
*Evidence of platelet activation
*Increase in many procoagulant factors
*Reduction in some natural anticoagulants
*Reduction in fibrinolysis
*Rise in markers of thrombin generation
*Coagulation factors (plasma fibrinogen, vWF, factors V, VII, VIII, X, XII, initail increase in XIII (then halved to pre-preg value), small decrease in XI and minimal increase in IX
Usual cause for macrocytic anaemia in pregnancy
- need for folic acid and preg increases need for folate
2. Fe defiency as preg increases need for fe and mobilises iron stores
Gestational thrombocytopenia does not need to be managed. TRUE or FALSe
TRUE. it has no functional consequence on foetus or mother but needs to be distinguished from other causes
SICKLE CELL DISEASE – acute complications:
a. Vaso-occlusive crisis - hands and feet (dactylitis), chest syndrome, abdominal pain (mesenteric), bones (long bones, ribs, spine), brain, priapism (painful erection)
b. Septicaemia
c. Aplastic crisis (failure of the bone marrow to produce any red blood cells - should not be confused with anaemia)
d. Sequestration crisis (spleen, liver)
SICKLE CELL DISEASE –chronic complications:
a. Hyposplenism: due to infarction and atrophy of spleen.
b. Renal disease: medullary infarction with papillary necrosis. Tubular damage - can’t concentrate urine (bed-wetting at night). Glomerular – chronic renal failure/dialysis
c. Avascular necrosis (AVN): femoral/humeral heads
d. Leg ulcers, osteomyelitis, gall stones, retinopathy, cardiac, respiratory