Haematology Flashcards
WHAT DOES CRYOPRECIPITATE CONTAIN?
- Factor 8
- Factor 13
- Fibrinogen
- Von Willebrand factor
WHAT IS MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME?
- also known as myelodysplasia
- acquired neoplastic disorder of hematopoietic stem cells
- pre-leukaemia, may progress to AML
What are the features of myelodysplastic syndrome?
- more common with age
- presents with bone marrow failure (anaemia, neutropaenia, thrombocytopenia)
WHAT IS MULTIPLE MYELOMA?
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdytgW5wKa4
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghvoKhpAc64&t=471s
Cancer of plasma cells
What is the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma?
What is there an abnormal proliferation of?
What is secreted?
Abnormal proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells
Secretion of immunoglobulin (Ig) or an Ig fragment
Dysfunction of many organs (esp kidney).
What are the two proteins produced as a result of myeloma?
Paraprotein (just the light chain of Ig)
Bence Jones protein in the urine
How do osteoblasts and osteoclasts work?
What else does an osteoblasts do?
Osteoblasts secrete osteoid
Osteoclasts break down bone by HCl
Osteoblasts regulate osteoclasts by RANKL
When RANKL binds to RANK on osteoclasts it makes them work
Osteoblasts also secrete OPG which inhibit this
What is the difference between MGUS, symptomatic and asymptomatic myeloma?
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- M-protein in serum <30 g/l
- Bone marrow clonal plasma cells <10 % and low level of plasma cell infiltration in a trephine biopsy (if done)
- No related organ or tissue impairment
Asymptomatic myeloma (aMM)
- M-protein in serum >30 g/l and/or Bone marrow clonal plasma cells >10 %
- No related organ or tissue impairment
Symptomatic myeloma (sMM)
- M-protein in serum and/or urine
- Bone marrow (clonal) plasma cells or biopsy proven plasmacytoma
- Myeloma-related organ or tissue impairment (including bone lesions)
What are the symptoms for myeloma?
Remember babs the CRAB! Calcium, Renal, Anaemia, Bones
Hypercalcaemia
Renal impairment
Anaemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia
Infiltration
Osteolytic bone lesions
Causing backache, fractures and vertebral collapse.
Recurrent bacterial infections
Immunoparesis, and neutropenia due to the disease and from chemotherapy.
What tests can you do for myeloma?
(Thick about the symptoms)
FBC (Full blood count)
Result in normocytic normochromic anaemia
ESR or PV (Erythrocyte sedimentary rate or plasma viscosity)
Both would be increased
U&E, Ca, albumin
All increased
Phosphate + Alk Phos Normal
Serum and urinary EP
Peak in IgG, M spike
XR of suspect areas
Lytic ‘punched-out’ lesions
Pepper-pot skull
What are the diagnostic features of myeloma?
Monoclonal protein band
Plasma cells increase
Evidence of end-organ damage from myeloma
Bone lesions
What Ig’s does myeloma normally produce?
IgG (2/3), IgA (1/3)
Rarely IgD, IgM or IgE
Monoclonal free light chains (Bence Jones proteins)
FLC only (15%)
What are the complications of myeloma?
Hypercalcaemia
AKI
Hyperviscosity
Cord compression
Amyloid
What is the treatment for myeloma?
C – Ca – hydration +/- bisphosphonates
R – Renal – hydration +/- dialysis
A – Anaemia– transfusion +/- EPO
Neutropenia - antibiotics
B – Bones – analgesia + bisphosphonates
Chemo +/- BMT
WHAT IS LYMPHOMA?
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QVO75CihYQ
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfuP7j4A1cs
Basically a malignant growth of white blood cells
What are the two different types of lymphoma?
Hodgkin’s
NHL.
WHAT IS HODGKINS LYMPHOMA?
Malignancy of mature lymphocytes that arises in the lymphatic system
In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, characteristic cells with mirror-image nuclei are found, called Reed–Sternberg cells
Most common type is nodular sclerosing
What is the epidemology of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
- BIMODAL
- Young adults and elderly.
What are the risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
- EBV
- SLE
- Post-transplantation
- Obesity
How does Hodgkins lymphoma present?
Enlarged lymph nodes
Hepatosplenomegaly
B symptoms:
Seen in approximately 25% of patients and includes
Unexplained fever >38°C
Drenching night sweats
Weight loss of >10% over 6 months
What can make lymph node pain worse?
Alcohol
How do you diagnose Hodgkins lymphoma?
-
Lymph node biopsy
- Reed-Sternberg cells
-
Blood evaluation
- FBC, ESR
- Chest radiography
- Staging with contrast
What is the staging system called for lymphoma?
Ann Arbor system
I Confined to single lymph node region.
II Involvement of two or more nodal areas on the same side of the diaphragm.
III Involvement of nodes on both sides of the diaphragm.
IV Spread beyond the lymph nodes, eg liver or bone marrow.
What is the treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
- Chemo (ABVD) +/-RT
- Blood transfusions with irradiated packed red cells
- BMT for relapse
- Different amount of cycles depending on stage of disease
WHAT IS NHL?
This includes all lymphomas without Reed–Sternberg cells —a diverse group.
What are some examples of NHL?
Low grade e.g. Follicular Lymphoma
High grade e.g. Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma
Very high grade e.g. Burkitt’s Lymphoma
Which cell line are most NHL derived from?
Which is the most common?
B-cells
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is commonest.
What are some risk factors of NHL?
- Elderly
- Caucasians
- History of viral infection (specifically Epstein-Barr virus)
- Family history
- Certain chemical agents (pesticides, solvents)
- History of chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Immunodeficiency (transplant, HIV, diabetes mellitus)
- Autoimmune disease (SLE, Sjogren’s, coeliac disease)
What are the symptoms of NHL?
- Painless lymphadenopathy
- Weight loss >10%
- Night sweats
- Pyrexia >38C
- GI symptoms if small bowel lymphomas
- Skin involvement in T-cell lymphomas
What are the tests for NHL?
Marrow and node biopsy
Diagnostic
Blood
FBC, U&E, LFT
Cytology
LP for CSF cytology if CNS signs.
What is the treatment for NHL?
Low grade (follicular)
W&W
High grade (diffuse large B cell)
Chemo
BMT for relapse
R-CHOP = Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.
WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA?
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkRVTqfPsE
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkRVTqfPsE
Malignant proliferation of haemopoietic cells.
What are some different types of leukaemia?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkRVTqfPsE
Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML)
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL).
What are the main differences between each leukaemia?
What is acute myeloid leukaemia a disease of?
Myeloblasts.
What is chronic myeloid leukaemia a disease of?
Basophils, Neutrophils and Eosinophils.
What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia a disease of?
Lymphoblast.
What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia a disease of?
B lymphocytes.
Which leukaemias affect children and which adults?
Children
ALL
AML
Adults
AML
CML
CLL
What is the stain called which allows you to distinguish between myeloblasts and lymphoblasts?
Sudan black stain
What can CLL develop into?
A lymphoma
WHAT IS ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkRVTqfPsE
Clonal expansion of myeloblasts in BM, blood and other tissues
Above what percentage of blasts cells does there have to be for AML?
More than 20% blasts cells in bone marrow
What is the epidemology of acute myeloid leukaemia?
The commonest acute leukaemia of adults
What is the aetiology of acute myeloid leukaemia?
(Who is at increased risk)
Aetiology usually not obvious but risk increased in:
- Preceeding Haematological disorders
- Prior chemotherapy
- Exposure to ionising radiation
What are the symptoms of acute myeloid leukaemia?
Marrow failure
Symptoms of anaemia, infection or bleeding.
Fever
Infiltration
Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly
GUM HYPERTROPHY + BLEEDING
How can you diagnose acute myeloid leukaemia?
-
FBC
- ↓RBC
- ↓PLT
- WCC variable
- Usually w/ neutropenia
-
Bone marrow biopsy
- Blast cells may be few in the peripheral blood
- 20 out of 100 white blood cells
-
Clotting screen
- DIC may occur
-
Blood film
- Aurer rods
What is diagnositc of AML from ALL?
- Auer rods are diagnostic of AML
- Myeloperoxidase makes this
What is the treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia?
-
Supportive
- (blood/platelets/fluids)
- Treat Infection
-
Chemotherapy
- (remission induction (regenerate) ➔ consolidation(intensification) ➔ maintenance: steroids
-
Bone Marrow Transplantation
- During 1st remission
What drug can be used to prevent tumour lysis syndrome?
Where else is this used?
Allopurinol
Gout
What is acute premylocitic leukaemia?
Build up of premyelocytes from a problem with the retinoic acid receptor
What happens with premyelocitic leukaemia?
What do you get with all the premyelocytes?
What does this cause?
- Build up of premyelocytes
- Lots of auer rods
- Increase coagualation risk
- Medical emergency
What is the treatment of premyelocitic leukaemia?
All trans retionic acid ATRA
WHAT IS CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn3fylOqUZU&t=6s
CML is characterized by an uncontrolled clonal proliferation of myeloid cells
Only partialy differentiate
What happens with the cells in CML?
Where do they go to?
Divide too quickly
Spill out into blood and crowd it
Where do the myeloid cells go to through the blood?
- Liver and spleen
- Cause hepatosplenomegaly
What is the epidemology of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Usually 40-60yrs age
Rare in childhood
Slight male dominance
What is the key diagnostic feature of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Philadelphia Chromosome t(9;22)
80%
BCR/ABL on 22
Causes an activated tyrosine kinase
Worse prognosis if absent
What are the symptoms and signs of chronic myeloid leukaemia?
Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Sweats
- Bleeding (platelet dysfunction)
- Abdominal discomfort (splenic enlargement).
Signs
- Splenomegaly (>75%)— OFTEN MASSIVE
- Hepatomegaly, anaemia, bruising
What are the investigations for chronic myeloid leukaemia?
-
FBC
- Raised WCC >30x10^9 – all myeloid cells raised – neutrophils, macrophages, basophils, eosinophils).
- Hb low or normal
- Platlets variable
- can cause thrombocytosis
-
Cytogenetics (karyotype, FISH or PCR)
- Philadelphia Chromosome
What is the treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia?
-
Matinib is now considered first-line treatment
- Inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase associated with the BCR-ABL defect
- Very high response rate in chronic phase CML
- Hydroxyurea
- Interferon-alpha
- Allogenic bone marrow transplant
WHAT IS ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkRVTqfPsE
Malignancy of B/T lymphocyte cell lines
What is the epidemology of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Most common paediatric malignancy
Rarer in adults
What is thought to cause acute lymphoid leukaemia?
Genetic susceptibility
Translocations
+ an environmental trigger
What are the signs and symptoms for acute lymphoid leukaemia?
- CNS involvement (cranial nerve palsies and meningism)
- Anaemia, bleeding, vulnerability to infection
- Lymphadenopathy
- Orchidomegaly
What is the diagnosis for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
-
FBC
- ↓RBC, ↓PLT, WCC variable, usually w/ neutropenia
-
Blood film
- Blasts cells unless confined to bone marrow (+ bone marrow aspiration) 30 in 100 cells
- Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase
-
Clotting screen
- DIC may occur
-
Lumbar puncture
- CNS involvement
- Cytogenetics
How do you treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
-
Chemotherapy
Remission induction (regenerate) ➔ consolidation (intensification) ➔ maintenance: steroids -
Bone Marrow Transplantation
During 1st remission -
Supportive
Blood/platelets/fluids
WHAT IS CHRONIC LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn3fylOqUZU&t=6s
Accumulation of mature B cells that have escaped programmed cell death
What happens to the cells in CLL?
- Don’t divide quickly enough
What is the epidemology of chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia?
- Most common leukaemia
- Generally elderly but 20% <55yrs
What are the signs and symptoms for chronic lymphoid leukaemia?
Symptoms
- Often none, surprise finding on a routine FBC.
- May be anaemic or infection-prone.
- If severe: ‘B’ symptoms - weight loss, sweats, anorexia.
Signs
- Enlarged, rubbery, non-tender nodes.
- Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly.
What are the different stages of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
- Rai Staging
- 1-5 based on examination and FBC
What are the tests for chronic lymphoid leukaemia?
- Increased WBCs greater than 15000 x 10^9 per litre
-
Film
Smudge cells (also know as smear cells)
B cell that have been broken
What are the complications for chronic lymphoid leuklaemia?
- Autoimmune haemolysis
- Increased Infection due to hypogammaglobulinaemia
- Marrow failure
What is the treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
- Rituximab
- Chemotherapy
- Bone marrow transplant + Radio
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT HAEMOGLOBINOPATHIES?
Disorders of quality (abnormal molecule or variant haemoglobins)
Sickle cell disease
Disorders of quantity (reduced production)
a or b thalassaemia
What does normal haemoglobin contain and foetal?
Normal Hb 2xa, 2xb
Foetal Hb 2xa, 2xg
What does haemoglobin change from to during development?
Haemoglobin F to haemoglobin A.
WHAT IS SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA (GENETICS)?
What type of anaemia is it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ql-X60CUNQ&t=6s
- Sickle-cell anaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder causing production of abnormal beta globin chains.
- Microcytic anaemia
What is haemoglobin S?
Variant haemoglobin arising because of a point mutation in the b globin gene.
What happens with a carrier of sickle cell disease?
Carriers of HbS are symptom free
Carriage offers protection against falciparum malaria
Sickle cell diseases arise in the homozygous state (SS) or in combined heterozygotes (SC or Sb thalassaemia).
What gene changes occur in sickle cell anaemia?
Thiamine for adenine in 6th codon
Beta globin gene
Glutamic acid leaves
Valine comes in
What is the pathology of sickle cell disease?
What happens to the red blood cell?
- HbS polymerizes when deoxygenated
- RBCs deform, producing sickle cells
- Which are fragile and haemolyse, and also block small vessels
- Sickling cells appear at acidosis at at time when they deposit lots of oxygen
What are the symptoms of sickle cell disease?
Think about the crises’!
- Fatigue and Anaemia
- Pain Crises
- Dactylitis and Arthritis
- Bacterial Infections
- Leg Ulcers
- Aseptic Necrosis and Bone Infarcts
What are the different crises for sickle cell disease?
- Haemolytic
- Vaso-occlusive ‘painful’ crisis
- Aplastic crisis (sudden reduction in marrow production) - reduced reticulocytes
- Sequestration crisis (There is pooling of blood in the spleen ± liver) - increased reticulocytes
What are the tests for sickle cell disease?
-
Hb ELECTROPHARESIS
- For dx
- HbSS present and absent HbA
-
Screen neonate
- blood/heel prick test
-
FBC
- Low Hb, high reticulocyte count
-
Blood film
- SICKLED erythrocytes
- Howell-Jolly bodies
- Taget cells
What are some common complications of sickle cell disease?
Acute complications
Painful crisis
Sickle chest syndrome
Stroke
Chronic complications
Renal impairment
Pulmonary hypertension
Joint damage
What are the treatments for sickle cell anaemia?
-
Prophylactic ABX
- Daily penicillin.
- Pneumococcal & influenza vaccine
- Folic acid
-
Pain relief for crisis
- NSAIDs/paracetamol
-
Hydroxyurea
- Hydroxycarbamide - REDUCE COMPLICATIONS
- Increase conc. of HbF
-
Transfusions
- Bone marrow transplant
What bacteria for osteomyelitis are sickle cell patients susceptable to?
Salmonella enteridis
WHAT IS THALASSAEMIA?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK_uIBHnOWo&t=4s
The thalassaemias are genetic diseases of unbalanced Hb synthesis, with under-production (or no production) of one globin chain
What is the pathology of thalassaemia?
What happens to the red blood cells?
Unmatched globins precipitate
Damaging RBC membranes
Causing their haemolysis while still in the marrow.
What are the different types of Thalassaemia?
What different treatments do they require?
Thalassaemia Major
Transfusion dependent
Thalassaemia Intermedia
Less severe anaemia and can survive without regular blood transfusions
Thalassaemia Carrier/heterozygote
Asymptomatic.
What type of anaemia is thalassaemia?
Microcytic
WHAT IS BETA THALASSAEMIA?
What do you get less of?
What happens as a result?
In homozygous beta-thalassaemia, little/no normal beta chain production
EXCESS alpha chains.
Alpha chains combine w. whatever beta, delta or gamma chains available increased production of HbA2& HbF.
What is the cause of beta thalassemia?
Which chromosome is it defected in?
Point mutations in beta-globin genes
Chromosome 11
Decreased beta-chain production (beta+) or absence (beta0)
What is beta thalassemia major called?
Beta thalassaemia major (Cooley’s anaemia) denotes abnormalities in both beta-globin genes.
When does beta thalassaemia major present?
6 -12 months
What are the symptoms of beta thalassaemia major?
- Failure to feed, listless, crying, pale.
-
Bones widen due to increased activity
- Skull bossing
- Anaemia
-
Hepatosplenomegaly
- Lots of RBCs need to be destroyed
What is beta thalassaemia minor or trait?
This is a carrier state
What are the symptoms of beta thalassaemia minor?
- Usually asymptomatic
-
Mild, well-tolerated anaemia (Hb >90g/L)
- Mild hypochromic, microcytic anaemia - microcytosis is characteristically disproportionate to the anaemia