Haematology Flashcards
Plasma cell dyscrasias (disorders)
MGUS - Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance Myeloma Solitary plasmacytoma Multiple solitary plasmacytoma Extramedullary plasmacytoma Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
Multiple myeloma
Bone marrow cancer
Neoplastic proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells
Characterised by - a monoclonal protein in serum or urine, lytic bone lesions (tend to be in skull, spine, pelvis), CRAB (elevated Ca, Renal failure, Anaemia, Bone lesions)
Multiple myeloma - Presentation
Tiredness, malaise
Bone/back pain (sometimes with fractures)
Infections
Purpura
Proteinuria
Raynaud’s
Lab - anaemia/abnormal FBC, renal failure, hypercalcaemia, raised globulins, raised ESR, serum/urine paraprotein
Blood film - Rouleaux
Peripheral blood smear
The commonest type of myeloma
IgG
Myeloma - Chromosomal abnormalities
t (11;14) - most common
13q - associated with treatment resistance
Myeloma - Investigations
CT/MRI/PET
Rouleaux blood film
Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy
Cause of death in myeloma
Infection
Amyloidosis
Proteinuria
Lower limb swelling
Amyloidosis
When an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in your tissues and organs.
When it does, it affects their shape and how they work.
Myeloma - Treatment (CTD)
Supportive - Antibiotics
Radiotherapy - spot welding
Chemo (CTD) - Cyclophosphamide, Thalidomide, Dexamethasone
Myeloma vs lymphoma
Myeloma - plasma cells
Lymphoma - lymphocytes
Lymphoma - Common features
Enlarged lymph gland
Loss of appetite/weight loss
Night sweats
Lymphoma - Signs
Lymph gland enlargement
Lymphoma - Investigations
Biopsy bone marrow
Bloods - Hb, WBC, Platelets
Lump in the neck - Differential diagnosis
Infective lymph node (bacterial/viral) - TB (tender)
Tumour (solid)
Lymphoma - Treatment
Chemo - R-CHOP (Non-Hodgkin’s - specific)
Rituximab (Monoclonal Ab treatment)
Chlorambucil
Radiotherapy (local)
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets
Too few platelets in the blood
Lymphoma
Malignant growth of WBCs - lymphocytes
Commonly in lymph nodes
Also in blood, bone marrow, liver, spleen
Lymphoma vs leukaemia
Lymph glands - Lymphoma
Bloods - Leukaemia
Both involve lymphocytes
Lymphoma - Causes
Immunodeficiency - HIV
Infection - EBV, H-pylori
Autoimmune
Lymphoma - Investigations
Blood film Bone marrow aspirate Lymph node biopsy Immunophenotyping (CD20 expressed by B lymphocytes) - Rituximab (MAb) targets CD20 Cytogenetics - FISH PCR
Lymphoma - Staging
Blood tests - FBCs, LFTs Viral serology CT - chest, abdo CXR PET Bone marrow biopsy
Lymphoma - subtypes
Hodgkin
Non-hodkin
Lymphoma - Hodgkin’s
Histological feature - Reed-Sternberg cells
Painless
Hodgkin’s - Staging
Stage 1-4
Hodgkin’s - Treatment
Radio
Chemo - ABVD (Anthracyclines and bleomycin are examples of one of these)
Bone marrow transplant
Non-Hodgkin’s - Grades
Low grade (Follicular) - slow-growing, incurable
Treatment of low-grade - MAb
High grade (diffuse large B cell lymphoma) - Nodal presentation, curable
Treatment of high grade - MAb
MAb
Rituximab
Targeted treatment
Anti CD-20
Targets CD20 expressed on cell surface of B-cells
Chimeric protein (mix of mouse/human proteins)
Minimal SEs (as opposed to chemo)
Acute leukaemia - Investigation
FBC - Hb, Plts, WBCs
Blood film
U&Es - B12, folate, iron levels
LFTs
Bone marrow aspirate and biopsy - identify blasts (large cells with very little cytoplasm
Immunophenotyping (confirms cells type - myeloid or lymphoid)
Acute leukaemia - Symptoms
Symptomatic anaemia - Tiredness, fatigue, lightheadedness, palpitations, SOB (on exertion)
Symptomatic thrombocytopenia - Bruising/bleeding
Symptomatic low WBC - Infections
Symptomatic high WBC - Due to leukostasis or tumour lysis
Extramedullary disease - disease infiltration in skin, gums (hypertrophied)
Coagulopathy - DIC due to sepsis
Acute leukaemia - Differential diagnosis
CML
AML
Severe sepsis
Cytopenias (Differentials for eachother)
B12/Folate/iron deficiencies DIC Infections - HIV (viral), TB (bacterial) Lymphoma Leukemia Myeloma
Bone marrow biopsy and aspirates
Identify blasts - large cells with very little cytoplasm
Leukaemia - Types
AML ALL CML CMML CLL
AML - Blast
Myeloblast