Haematology Flashcards
What is deep vein thrombosis?
Formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein of the body
What are DVTs caused by?
Poor blood flow leading to clot formation
Give 5 risk factors for a DVT
- ) Venous flow stasis (e.g. immobility)
- ) Trauma/surgery
- ) Hypercoagulability
- ) Advanced age
- ) Sickle cell disease
- ) Pregnancy
- ) Taking oestrogen (HRT, pill)
- ) Cancer
- ) Obesity
- ) Thrombophilia
- ) Increased age
Give the steps of the clotting cascade (6)
1) Platelets adhere to endothelium
2) Aggregate forms
3) Clotting factors release
4) Prothrombin to thrombin
5) Thrombin catalyses fibrinogen to fibrin
6) Fibrin reinforces clot
Give 3 symptoms/signs of a DVT
- ) May be asymptomatic
- ) Calf warmth, tenderness, swelling, redness, pain
- ) Mild fever
- ) Pitting oedema
- ) Usually in just one leg
Give 3 tests for DVT
- ) D dimer
- ) US compression
- ) Thrombophilia test before anticoagulation if abnormal presentation
What is D dimer?
A fibrin degradation product
What does a normal/positive D dimer result mean?
Normal - excludes diagnosis
Positive - doesn’t confirm diagnosis
What do we do if an US compression if negative?
Perform again after a week as the clot may have spread up and become detectable
Give 3 parts of treatment of a DVT
- ) LMWH/ warfarin
- ) DOACs
- ) Underlying cause
- ) IVC filter in active bleeding/anticoagulants fail
What does DOACs stand for?
Direct oral anticoagulants
Give 2 methods of prevention of DVTs
- ) Stop oral contraceptive pill 4 weeks pre-op
- ) Mobilise early
- ) LMWH
- ) Compression stockings
What is a thrombosis?
Inappropriate blood coagulation occurs inside a vessel
What is arterial circulation high in?
Platelets
What is venous circulation high in?
Fibrin
Name 3 places an arterial thrombosis can occur and what it can cause
- ) Coronary circulation - MI
- ) Cerebral circulation - CVA/stroke
- ) Peripheral circulation - peripheral vascular disease
What is the treatment for a stroke?
Aspirin/clopidogrel, TPA
What is an embolism?
The passage of material through the venous or arterial circulations
What is the most common process of an embolism?
Thrombo-emolus from a DVT
Give 3 symptoms for an embolism
- ) Asymptomatic possible
- ) Transient dyspnoea
- ) Chest pain
- ) Haemoptysis
- ) Secondary effusion
- ) CV collapse
- ) Sudden death
What is a paradoxical embolism?
An embolus that travels through the venous circuit and then across the heart through a patent foramen ovale
Give 2 causes of a systemic arterial embolism
- ) Atherosclerotic plaques
- ) IE
What does the Virchow triad include?
- ) Stasis of blood flow
- ) Endothelial injury
- ) Hypercoagulability
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Large embolus that blocks the pulmonary arteries
Give 3 symptoms of a pulmonary embolism
- ) Breathlessness
- ) Pleuritic chest pain
- ) May have signs/symptoms of DVT
- ) Haemoptysis
- ) Dizziness
- ) Syncope
Give 4 signs of a pulmonary embolism
- ) Tachycardia
- ) Tachypnoea
- ) Pleural rub
- ) Those of precipitating cause
- ) Cyanosis
- ) Purexia
- ) Hypotension
- ) Raised JVP
- ) Pleural effusion
What does a pulmonary embolism lead to? (if it doesn’t kill)
- ) Hypotension
- ) Cyanosis
- ) Severe dyspnoea
- ) Right heart strain/failure
What does a pulmonary embolism usually arise from?
A venous thrombosis in the pelvis or legs
What are the risk factors for a pulmonary embolism?
Same as for DVT
What investigations do we do for a pulmonary embolism?
- ) CXR
- ) ECG
- ) Blood gas
- ) D-dimer
- ) CTPA
- ) Echo
What does a blood gas show for a pulmonary embolism?
Type 1 respiratory failure of decreased PaO2 and PaCO2
What is a CTPA?
CT pulmonary angiogram
What should you consider in patients with a PE and no provoking risk factors?
Malignancy
What is the treatment for a pulmonary embolism?
As for DVT
- ) LMWH/ warfarin
- ) DOACs
- ) Treat cause
- ) IVC filter
What is the Wells score?
Pretest clinical probability scoring for DVT
What is anaemia defined as?
A low Hb concentration due to a low red cell mass or increased plasma volume
What is a low Hb for men?
<135g/L
What is a low Hb for women?
<115g/L
Give 3 symptoms of anaemia
- ) Fatigue
- ) Dyspnoea
- ) Faintness
- ) Palpitations
- ) Headache
- ) Tinnitus
- ) Anorexia
- ) Angina if pre-existing CHD
Give 2 signs of anaemia
- ) May be absent even in severe
- ) Pallor
- ) Tachycardia
- ) Flow murmurs
What is the normal MCV range?
76-96 femtolitres
What does MCV stand for?
Mean cell volume
Where are RBCs produced, and how long do they live for?
Bone marrow, 120 days
What are the 3 types of anaemia?
1) Microcytic - small
2) Normocytic - normal
3) Macrocytic - large
Give 3 causes for low MCV/ microcytic anaemia
- ) Iron deficiency anaemia
- ) Thalassaemia
- ) Anaemia of chronic disease
Give 3 causes for normal MCV/ normocytic anaemia
- ) Acute blood loss
- ) Anaemia of chronic disease
- ) Combined haematinic deficiencies (B12 and folate) (think malabsorption)
Give 3 causes for high MCV/ macrocytic anaemia
- ) B12/folate deficiency
- ) Alcohol excess/liver disease
- ) Hypothyroid
Where are RBCs removed? (4)
- ) Spleen
- ) Liver
- ) Bone marrow
- ) Blood loss
Give 3 consequences of anaemia
- ) Reduced O2 transport
- ) Tissue hypoxia
- ) Compensatory changes
How do we test for anaemia?
- ) History and exam
- ) B12, folate, ferritin
- ) FBC
Give 3 causes of iron deficient anaemia
- ) Blood loss (e.g. menstruation)
- ) Malabsorption
- ) Hookworm
Give 3 signs of iron deficient anaemia
- ) Koilonchyia (spoon shaped nails)
- ) Atrophic glossitis
- ) Lip ulceration
If there is lots of blood loss/problem with too much removal, what will there be lots of in the blood?
Reticulocytes (immature RBCs)
How do we treat iron deficiency anaemia?
Oral iron ferrous sulphate tablets
Give 3 causes of anaemia of chronic disease
- ) Chronic infection
- ) Renal failure
- ) Malignancies
Give 3 signs of anaemia of chronic disease
- ) Headache
- ) Pallor
- ) Tiredness
- ) Weakness
- ) SOB
What is the treatment for anaemia of chronic disease? (3)
- ) Treat underlying disease
- ) EPO
- ) Parenteral iron
What does EPO stand for?
Erythropoietin
What does EPO do, and what is it secreted by?
Increases rate of production of RBCs in response to decreased O2 levels in tissues, secreted by kidneys
What is pernicious anaemia?
Autoimmune condition in which atrophic gastritis leads to a lack of intrinsic factor secretion from the parietal cells of the stomach
How is B12 usually absorbed in the terminal ileum?
Binds to IF
What does B12 deficiency do?
B12 helps synthesise thymidine and hence DNA, thus deficiency causes decreased RBC production
What type of anaemia is pernicious?
Macrocytic
Give 2 causes of B12 deficiency
- ) Dietary
- ) Malabsorption
- ) Crohn’s, tapeworm
Give 2 features of B12 deficiency
-) Lemon tinge due to pallor and mild jaundice
Glossitis
-) Neuropsychiatric
-) Neurological
What is the treatment for pernicious anaemia? (2)
- ) Hydroxocobalamin (B12) if malabsorption
- ) Oral B12 if dietary
What type of anaemia is folate deficiency anaemia?
Macrocytic
What is folate deficiency anaemia caused by?
Poor diet and increased demand (pregnancy)
How do we treat folate deficiency?
Treat cause and give folic acid
What is haemolytic anaemia?
Premature breakdown of RBCs in circulation or reticuloendothelial system
Give 2 causes of haemolytic anaemia
- ) Inherited
- ) Acquired (drugs etc)
Give 2 signs for haemolytic anaemia
- ) Jaundice
- ) Hepatosplenomegaly
- ) Gallstones
- ) Leg ulcers
What type of anaemia is haemolytic?
Normocytic or macrocytic
What is aplastic anaemia?
Caused by rare stem cell disorder leading to panytopaenia and bone marrow failure
What is panytopaenia?
Deficiency of all blood cells
What are most causes of aplastic anaemia?
Autoimmune, triggered by drugs/radiation/infection
What is sickle cell anaemia?
An autosomal recessive disorder in which production of abnormal Hb results in vaso-occlusive crises
What are the 3 problems in anaemia of chronic disease?
1) Poor use of iron in erythropoiesis
2) RBC decreased survival
3) Decreased EPO production and response
What is the genetic problem behind sickle cell anaemia?
Amino acid substitution in the gene coding for the beta chain, which leads to the production of HbS rather than HbA
What is the difference between homozygotes (HbSS) and heterozygotes (HbAS) in sickle cell anaemia?
HbSS - sickle cell anaemia
HbAS - sickle cell trait
What does sickle cell trait protect the carrier from?
Falciparum malaria
What occurs to HbS when it is deoxygenated?
It polymerises, causing RBCs to deform, producing sickle cells which are fragile and haemolyse, blocking small vessels
In who is sickle cell anaemia more common?
African origin
Give 3 symptoms of sickle cell anaemia
- ) Vaso-occlusive painful crisis
- ) Aplastic crisis
- ) Sequestration crisis (children)
What is a vaso-occlusive crisis due to?
The occlusion of microvascular
Give 3 triggers for a painful vaso-occlusive crisis
- ) Cold
- ) Dehydration
- ) Infection
- ) Hypoxia
Give 3 other symptoms of sickle cell anaemia
- ) Dactylitis (<3)
- ) Stroke, seizures, cognitive defects
- ) Avascular necrosis
- ) Leg ulcers
- ) Low-flow priapism
What does the blood film look like in sickle cell anaemia?
Sickle and target cells seen
What confirms the diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia after a sickle solubility test?
Hb electrophoresis, can also distinguish between AS and SS
How do we treat sickle cell anaemia?
- ) Hydroxycarbamide - if frequent crises
- ) Prophylaxis (immunisation and antibiotics) - for splenic infarction
- ) Septicaemia risk
- ) Bone marrow transplant
- ) Genetic counselling
What is thalassaemia?
A genetic disease of unbalanced Hb synthesis with underproduction of one globin chain
What do unmatched globins do?
Precipitate and damage RBC membranes, causing their haemolysis whilst still in the marrow
What are the 3 main types of thalassaemia?
- ) Beta thalassaemia minor
- ) Beta thalassaemia intermedia
- ) Beta thalassaemia major
What are beta thalassaemias usually caused by genetically?
Point mutations in beta-globin chains on chromosome 11
What state is beta thalassaemia minor and what are its symptoms? (3)
Carrier state, usually asymptomatic, possible mild anaemia
What are the symptoms of beta thalassaemia intermedia? (3)
Moderate anaemia, not requiring transfusions, maybe splenomegaly
What is beta thalassaemia major?
Significant abnormalities in both beta-globin chains
How does beta thalassaemia major present?
In 1st year with severe anaemia and a failure to thrive
In beta thalassaemia major, what occurs in response to anaemia?
- ) Extra-medullary haematopoiesis (RBCs made outside of marrow)
- ) Skull bossing
- ) Hepatosplenomegaly
- ) Osteopenia
What do life long blood transfusions in beta thalassaemia major cause?
Iron overload/deposition seen after 10 years as endocrine failure
What does the blood film show for beta thalassaemia major?
Very hypochromic, microcytic cells, target cells, nucleated RBCs
What is the general treatment for beta thalassaemia? (6)
- ) Fitness and healthy diet
- ) Folate supplements
- ) Regular life-long transfusions
- ) Splenectomy if hypersplenism persists
- ) Hormonal replacement for endocrine complications
- ) Marrow transplant
What can we give to mitigate iron overload?
Iron-chelators (deferiprone PO and desferrioxamine)
What is it more common to be a carrier of alpha rather than beta thalassaemia?
Alpha has 4 genes coding for it rather than 2
What are the alpha thalassaemias mainly caused by?
Gene deletions
What does each number of mutations in alpha thalassaemia cause? (4)
4 - death in utero
3 - haemoglobin H disease
2 - asymptomatic carrier state
1 - clinically normal
What is relative polycythaemia?
Decreased plasma volume, normal RBC mass
What is absolute polycythaemia?
Increased RBC mass
What sort of disorder is polycythaemia?
Myeloproliferative - overactive bone marrow