Haematology Flashcards
What is DVT?
A blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body, usually the leg.
What is the differential diagnosis of DVT?
Cellulitis
What score determines the possibility of having DVT?
Wells score
What affects the Wells score?
Affected by active cancer, tenderness along DV system, swollen leg/calf, unilateral pitting oedema and recently bedridden.
What are the symptoms of DVT?
- Nonspecific symptoms
- Pain and swelling
- Tenderness
- Warmth
- Slight discolouration
What investigations for DVT?
- D-dimer – look for breakdown of fibrin products, if normal it excludes DVT
- Ultrasound compression scan – if you can’t squash the vein it’s a clot.
What is the treatment of DVT?
- LMWH
- Oral Warfarin or DOAC (direct oral anti-coag)
- Compression stockings
- Treat underlying cause e.g. malignancy
What are 3 risk factors for DVT?
- Surgery, immobility, leg fracture
- OCP,HRT
- Long Haul flights
- Genetic predisposition
- Pregnancy
- Age
- Obesity
How can you prevent DVT’s?
- Hydration
- Mobilisation
- Compression stockings
- Low dose LMWH (Low weight molecular heparin
What is the major consequence of a dislodged DVT?
Pulmonary embolism
What is the best prophylaxis for DVT?
LMWH
Describe arterial thrombosis?
Platelet rich - white
Describe venous thrombosis?
Fibrin rich - red
What are 3 major consequences of arterial thrombosis?
- MI
- Stroke
- Peripheral vasc disease-e.g. gangrene
What is the treatment for arterial thrombosis?
Aspirin, LMWH, Thrombolytic therapy.
What is a consequence of venous thrombosis?
PE.
How does warfarin work?
producing non functional clotting factors 2,7,9,10
Agonist of Vit K.
Why is warfarin difficult to work with?
Lots of interactions
Needs constant monitoring
Teratogenic
What is myeloma?
Malignancy of plasma cells leading to progressive bone marrow failure, associated with paraprotein, bone disease and renal disease.
What preceding disease is associated with myeloma?
monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
What is MGUS?
Common disease of paraprotein present in serum but no myeloma, often asymptomatic
What is the treatment for MGUS?
Watch and wait.
What are the symptoms of myeloma?
- Tiredness
- Bone/back pain
- Infections
What are the signs of Myeloma?
- Calcium is elevated – increased bone resorption and decreased formation causing raised Ca
- Renal failure – light chain deposition
- Anaemia – bone marrow infiltrated with plasma cells
- Bone lesions
Why is calcium elevated in myeloma?
increased bone resorption and decreased formation causing raised Ca
Why is renal failure caused by myeloma?
Light chain deposition
Why is anemia caused by myeloma?
Bone marrow infiltrated with plasma cells
What investigations would you order in suspected myeloma?
- Blood film – Rouleaux formation (Aggregations of RBC)
- Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy - increased plasma cell
- Electrophoresis – Monoclonal protein band
- X-ray – bone lesions
- CT scan
- MRI scan
- Chromosomal abnormalities
What would you expect to see in a bone marrow biopsy in suspected myeloma?
Increased plasma cell proliferation
What would you expect to see using electrophoresis in myeloma?
Monoclonal protein band
How would you diagnose myeloma?
Positive investigations
Must be evidence of mono-clonality (abnormal proliferation of plasma cell leading to IG secretion causing organ dysfunction
In 2/3 of people urine contains ig light chains with kappa or lamda lineage
What is the management of symptomatic myeloma?
Chemotherapy, analgesia, bisphosphates
Radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant to be done
What is lymphoma?
A malignant growth of WBC predominantly in the lymph nodes
What organs are often effected in lymphoma?
blood, liver, spleen, bone marrow
What are the risk factors for lymphoma?
- Primary immunodeficiency
- Secondary immunodeficency e.g. HIV
- Infection e.g. EBV
- AI disorders e.g. RA
What is the pathophysiology of lymphoma?
Impaired immunosurveillance and infected B cells escape regulation and proliferate
What are the symptoms of lymphoma?
- Enlarged lymph nodes in arms/neck
- Symptoms of compression syndromes
- General systemic B symptoms e.g. weight loss, night sweats and malaise
- Liver and spleen enlargement
What are the investigations in lymphoma?
- Blood film
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- Immunophenotyping
- Cytogenetics
What are the two subtypes of lymphoma?
- Hodgkins lymphoma
2. Non-hodgkins lymphoma
Describe Low grade non hodgkins lymphoma
Slow growing, advanced at presentation, often incurable
Describe High grade hodgkins lymphoma
Aggressive, nodal presentation, patient unwell, often curable
What is the treatment of Low-grade NHL?
If symptomless – do nothing
Radiotherapy, combination chemotherapy and mAb may be used if symptomatic
What is the treatment for High-grade NHL?
Early – short course chemotherapy and radio therapy
Advanced – combination chemotherapy and mAb
What are the symptoms of Hodgkins lymphoma?
Painless lymphadenopathy, Presence of B symptoms
What must be present for a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Reed-sternberg cells.
What is the staging of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Confined to a single lymph node region
- Involvement of two or more nodal areas on same side of diaphragm
- Involvement of nodes on both sides of diaphragm
- Spread beyond the lymph nodes e.g. liver
Each stage is either A (absent of B symptoms) or B (presence of B symptoms).
What is the treatment of Stage 1-2a Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Short course chemo followed by radiotherapy
What is the treatment of Stage 2b-4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Combination chemotherapy
What are the possible complications of treatments for lymphoma?
Secondary malignancies IHD Infertility Nausea Alopecia
What is leukaemia?
A malignant proliferation of haemopoietic stem cells
What are the sub types of leukaemia?
AML – Acute-myeloid leukaemia
CML – Chronic-myeloid leukaemia
ALL – Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
CLL – Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia
What are the symptoms of Leukaemia?
- Anaemia
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Hepatomegaly
- Splenomegaly
Why do you get anaemia, bleeding and infection in leukaemia?
Anaemia, bleeding and infection are all due to bone marrow failure
Why do you get hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in leukaemia?
Tissue infiltration
What investigations would you order for leukaemia?
- Blood film
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Lymph node biopsy
- Immunophenotyping
- Cytogenetics
What is Acute myeloid leukaemia?
Neoplastic proliferation of blast cells
What increases the risk of AML?
Prior chemo, exposure to ionising radiation and preceding haematological disorders
What is the treatment for AML?
- Supportive care
- Chemotherapy – curative v palliative
- Bone marrow transplant
What is Chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Uncontrolled clonal proliferation of basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils
What would you expect to see in the FBC of someone with CML?
High WBC
Where is the Philadelphia chromosome present?
In over 80% of people with CML
What is the treatment of CML?
Tyranise Kinase inhibitors
What is Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Uncontrolled proliferation of immature lymphoblast cells
What is the treatment of ALL?
CNS directed therapy and stem cell transplant
What is Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Proliferation of B lymphocytes leads to accumulation of mature B cells that have escaped apoptosis
What is the treatment of Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia?
- Do nothing
- Chemotherapy
- mAb
- Bone marrow transplant
What is Anaemia?
Decrease in the amount of Hb in the blood below the reference range.
What is the role of Hb in the body?
Carries oxygen to tissues
What organ’s are responsible for the removal of RBC?
Spleen
Liver
Bone marrow
Blood loss
What are the causes of microcytic anaemia?
- Iron deficiency
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Thalassaemia
What are the causes of normocytic anaemia?
- Acute blood loss
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Combined hematinic deficiency