Haematology Flashcards
findings in iron studies for iron deficiency anaemia?
microcytic
hypochromic
low ferritin
high TIBC
what are haemoglobinopathies?
Affect either:
1. quality and structure of Hb-HbS, HbO, HbE
- quantity of Hb- thalassaemia
what is normal adult hb?
HbA
2 alpha chains and 2 beta chains
what is foetal Hb?
HbF
2 alpha chains and 2 gamma
causes of iron deficiency anaemia?
blood or GI loss
insufficient dietary intake
malabsorption e.g. coeliac
blood film for iron deficiency anaemia?
target cells
signs of iron deficiency anaemia?
koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails)
atrophic glossitis
angular stomatitis
post-cricoid webs
tx of iron deficiency anaemia?
ferrous sulphate
continue for at least 3 months after Hb is normal
GI investigation
causes of anaemia of chronic disease?
chronic infection vasculitis RA malignancy renal failure etc
Ix of all anaemia?
FBC, TFTs, U&Es
haematinics- B12 and folate, ferritin, serum iron, TIBC
scoping
CT
causes of normocytic anaemia?
bleeding aplastic anaemia haemolytic anaemia sickle cell disease pregnancy chronic disease hypothyroidism
what is aplastic anaemia?
failure of bone marrow development that causes pancytopenia and hypoplastic bone marrow
what is haemolytic anaemia?
breakdown of RBCs before their normal life-span
hereditary causes of haemolytic anaemia?
hereditary spherocytosis
G6PD deficiency
sickle-cell
thalassaemia
acquired causes of haemolytic anaemia?
immune- warm/cold antibody type, transfusion reaction, rhesus disease
non-immune- malaria, dapsone (drug to treat dermatitis herpetiformis), malignancy, DIC, pre-eclampsia
signs of haemolytic anaemia?
bilirubin and LDH raised due to breakdown of cells
MCV high because reticulocytes so big
urinary urobilinogen
what is G6PD deficiency?
red blood cell enzyme defect
X linked, males, Mediterranean
precipitants of G6PD deficiency?
drugs- antimalarials, ciprofloxacin, sulphonamides
infections
fava beans
features of G6PD deficiency?
neonatal jaundice
intravascular haemorrhage
gallstones
splenomegaly
blood film of G6PD deficiency?
Heinz bodies
what is hereditary spherocytosis?
normal biconcave disc shape of RBC is replaced by a sphere- shaped one
AD inheritance
cells are destroyed by the spleen
Ix of hereditary spherocytosis??
blood film-spherocytes
EMA binding test
features of hereditary spherocytosis?
failure to thrive
jaundice, gallstones
splenomegaly
aplastic crisis- precipitated by parvovirus
Tx of hereditary spherocytosis?
folate replacement
splenomegaly
what is sickle-cell anaemia?
recessive disorder causing production of abnormal beta globin chains
HbS rather than HbA
the sickled cells are fragine and easily destroyed therefore cause haemolytic anaemia
are reticulocytes increased or decreased in sickle cell disease?
increased due to bone marrow trying to keep up with increased destruction of red cells
what is sickle cell trait?
60% HbA 40% HbS
Normally asymptomatic with normal FBC and no haemolysis
provides some protection against malaria
how does sick cell present?
at age 6-12 months anaemia splenomegaly overwhelming infection crises
what are sickle cell crises?
- vaso- occlusive crisis (includes acute chest syndrome)
- aplastic crisis
- sequestration crisis
pathology of vaso-occlusive crisis?
lots of Hb become deoxygenated at once cold-dehydrated, hypoxia lots of sickling occlusion of small vessels sometimes of larger vessels
features of vaso-occlusive crisis?
- severe pain from oxygen deprivation of tissues and avascular necrosis of the bone marrow
- swollen joints
- dactylitis
- acute abdomen
mx of vaso-occlusive crisis?
strong analgesia
high flow O2
hydration
blood transfusion
specific types of vaso-occlusive crisis?
thrombotic stroke
acute chest syndrome
priapism
features of acute chest syndrome?
new pulmonary infiltrate on XR and dyspnoea, pain, cough and fever
mx of acute chest syndrome?
oxygen chest physio may require NIV or I&v antibiotics transfusion/exchange transfusion
what causes an aplastic crisis?
parvovirus b19 infection
massive drop in Hb over 1 week
what is a sequestration crisis?
splenomegaly
drop in Hb, elevated reticulocytes
circulatory collapse, shock
mx of sickle cell disease?
- avoid cold, dehydration, hypoxia, exhaustion, alcohol and smoking
- folic acid supplementation
- oral penicillin V
- full vaccinations plus pneumococcal, flu and hep B
- iron chelation to prevent fe overload with repeated tx e.g. deferoxamine
- hydroxycarbamide- increases HbF
- annual transcranial USS
complications of sickle cell disease?
chronic pain pulmonary hypertension stroke infection gallstones retinopathy avascular necrosis of femoral or humeral head
what is beta thalassaemia trait?
BB,__
mildly anaemic, asymptomatic
what is beta thalassaemia major?
__,__
severe anaemia
chronic transfusion dependent
bony deformities
what are the different types of alpha thalassaemia?
4 deletions- in utero death
3 deletions- very anaemic, hypochromic, microcytic, splenomegaly, variable bone changes
2 deletions= slightly anaemic
1 deletion- asymptomatic, borderline Hb
what is pernicious anaemia?
autoimmune condition with antibodies against parietal cells and intrinsic factor
what is normal b12 absorption?
B12 is bound by salivary R protein then bound to intrinsic factor which is produced by the parietal cells
features of pernicious anaemia?
macrocytic anaemia
megaloblasts (big fragile immature red cells)
paraesthesia, glossitis fatigue
mx of pernicious anaemia?
B12 injections (hydroxycobalamin) 1mg IM every other day for 2 weeks
maintenance- 1mg every 3 months for life
can take orally if dietary cause
what can maternal folate deficiency cause?
neural tube defects (spina bifida)
causes of folate deficiency?
poor diet increased demand- pregnancy, malignancy, IBD malabsorption-coeliac drugs- anti-epileptics alcohol