Haematology Flashcards
Burkitt’s lymphoma pathology
c-myc gene
t8;14 translocation
Starry sky appearance: lymphocyte sheets, macrophages containing apoptotic tumour cells
EBV in African mandibular subtype
ileo-caecal / abdominal subtype is sporadic
Complication of Burkitt’s lymphoma treatment
Tumour lysis syndrome - give rasburicase
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
T9:22 - 9 ABL (oncogene - an aberrant tyrosine kinase) + 22 B cell receptor
Acute pro-myelocytic leukaemia
T15:17 - 15 Promyelocytic gene + 17 Retinoid acid receptor alpha (Fusion protein binds retinoid acid receptor and promotes transcription).
AUER RODS (also in AML)
Bilobed / multilobed granulocytes (immature)
Clinical features: splenomegaly, pancytopenia, can present as DIC
Mx: all-trans retinoic acid
Follicular Lymphoma
T14:18 - 14 Ig heavy constant region + 18 Bcl2 (anti-apoptotic gene)
Mantle Cell Lymphoma
T11:14 - 11 - Cyclin D (oncogene) + 14 Ig heavy constant region
Diabetes monitoring with abnormal haemoglobin
HbA1c does not work
Use total glycated haemoglobin or glycosylated fructosamine
Heinz bodies
Denatured haemoglobin inclusions in RBCs e.g. exposure to oxidative stress
G6PD
Acanthocytes
spiculated RBCs
hyposplenism, abetalipoproteinaemia
Basophilic stippling
lead poisoning, megaloblastic anaemia, thalassaemia, myelodysplasia
Burr cells
Irregularly shaped cells
Stomach cancer
Howell-Jolly bodies
nuclear remnant (purple spot) in RBC
hyposplenism: post-splenectomy, sickle cell, coeliac, UC/crohn’s
megaloblastic anaemia
hereditary spherocytosis
Leucoerythroblastic anaemia
marrow infiltration -> nucleated RBCs and immature WBCs in blood
Myelofibrosis, malignancy with marrow infiltration
Polychromasia
Reticulocytosis
Rouleaux foramation
chronic inflammation, parapropteinaemia, myeloma
schistocytes
Fragmentation haemolysis is occurring
- DIC
- HELLP syndrome
- mechanical valve turbulence
- TTP / HUS
Spherocytes
hereditary spherocytosis
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Target cells
Increased cell membrane:cell volume size
- IDA
- thalassaemia
- hyposplenism
- liver disease
Hypersegmented neutrophil
megaloblastic anaemia - e.g. b12/folate defiency
Tear drop cells
extramedullary haemopoiesis e.g. myelodysplasia, myelofibrosis, thalassaemia
Poikilocytosis
Varied RBC shape
Anisocytosis
varied RBC size
Hyposplenism (and post splenectomy) blood film
target cells Howell-Jolly bodies Pappenheimer bodies siderotic granules acanthocytes
IDA blood fbc / film / haematinics
FBC
- RDW increases early
- microcytosis later (but more specific)
Blood film
- target cells
- ‘pencil’ poikilocytes
Haematinics
- low ferritin
- raised transferrin (compensatory)
- reduced TIBC
Myelofibrosis
‘tear-drop’ poikilocytes
JAK2 mutation
Dry tap bone marrow
Indications for CLL treatment
> 6cm splenomegaly
10cm lymphadenopathy
B symptoms (weight loss, fever)
progressive lymphocytosis (>50% in 2 months, doubling time <6months)
progressive marrow failure (anaemia, thrombocytopenia)
CLL mx
FCR: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab
- prophylactic co-trimoxazole (fludarabine)
Chlorambucil if not fit for FCR
Ibrutinib if fail to respond to the above
Unprovoked DVT ix
For over 40s…
1) CXR, bloods, urinalysis including PSA and dip
2) CT AP and mammogram
3) Consider antiphospholipid antibodies (do on younger patients)
4) hereditary thrombophilia screen only if 1st degree relative (or young?)
Beta thalassaemia major
Severe microcytic anaemia Target cells Transfusion dependent HbA2 > 5% HbF up to 95% No HbA
Beta thalassaemia intermedia
Mod microcytic anaemia
Not transfusion dependent
HbA2 >4%
HbF up to 50%
Beta thalassaemia minor
Mild microcytic anaemia
HbA2 >4%
HbF up to 5%
Alpha thalassaemia major
Either hydrops faetalis in utero OR HbH disease - HbH up to 30% - HbA2 up to 4% - moderate microcytic anaemia
Alpha thalassaemia minor
Mild microcytic anaemia Hb Barts (3 to 8%, only in the newborn period)
IgA deficiency features
Respiratory tract infections
Associated with atopy
Risk of severe transfusion reactions
Myelofibrosis mx
1) Allogenic stem cell transplant
2) Ruxolitinib, fedratinib, hydroxyurea
Cryoglobulinaemia features
- Raynaud’s only seen in type I
- cutaneous: vascular purpura, distal ulceration
- arthralgia
- renal involvement (diffuse glomerulonephritis)
- peripheral neuropathy
Type 1 cryoglobulinaemia aetiology
Monoclonal IgM or IgG responsible
Causes: myeloma, waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia
Specific features: raynaud’s
Type 2 (mixed) cryoglobulinaemia aetiology
- Mixed poly and monoclonal Ig
- RF positive usually
Causes: hep C, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogren’s, lymhpoma
Mx: treat the cause, steroids / rituxumab
plasma exchange if hyperviscosity
Type 3 cryoglobulinaemia
Polyclonal Ig
Rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren’s
Causes of paraprotein bands
MGUS
- IgM / M protein < 3g/dL
- < 10% lymphoplasmocytic / plasma cells on BM
- abnormal kappa: lambda free light chain ratio
- absence of end organ damage
Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia
- IgM gammopathy of any size
- > 10% lymphoplasmocytic cells on BM
- hyperviscosity, splenomegaly common (more than MM)
Multiple myeloma
- more commonly IgG gammopathy
- > 10% plasma cells on BM
- evidence of end organ damage
Smouldering multiple myeloma
- 10-60% plasma cells
- absence of end organ damage
Acute (pro)myelocytic complications
(DIC), anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperviscosity
Hereditary angioedema - acute mx and prophylaxis
Acute: IV C1-inhibitory concentrate OR FFP
Prophylaxis: tranexamic acid, danazol
Mx polycythaemia rubra vera
Venesection aim hct < 0.45
Low dose aspirin
Hydroxyurea if >60 years old or hx of thrombosis
Neurovisceral only porphyrias
Acute intermittent porphyria
Aminolaevulinic acid dehydrogenase porphyria
Photosensitive only porphyrias
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Congenital erythropoietic porphyria
Erythropoietic protoporphyria
Mixed neurovisceral / photosensitive porphyria
Hereditary coproporphyria
Variegate porphyria
Stroke in vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis
Exchange transfusion
Haemophilia A & B coagulation
- normal PT / INR
- raised APTT (decreases with mixing)
- normal bleeding time