Haematology Flashcards
Definition of haematology
-Branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, pathology, treatment and prevention of diseases related to the blood
Definition of haematopoiesis and where it can occur
- Process through which all blood cells are derived
- Haematopoietic system is composed of the bone marrow, spleen, liver, lymph nodes and thymus
- Occurs in different sites depending on the individual age
- In childhood, it occurs in the bone marrow of nearly all bones
- In adults, it occurs in the bone marrow of the axial skeleton and the proximal parts of the long bones (for example, the pelvis, cranium, vertebrae and sternum)
Go through the haematapoeisis system
- Begins with a pluripotent stem cell, capable of both self renewal and differentiation
- Look at a picture for this
Describe how the location where haematopoesis changes as you grow from a foetus to an adult
- As a young foetus, predominantly your liver and spleen make blood cells
- As an older foetus, bone marrow (more) and lymph nodes (less) take over
- Bone marrow produces the most when the baby is born and this decreases slowly over time
- Lymph node is considerably less than bone marrow
-If there is an infection, or pathological cause, there is a spurt in haematopoeisis occuring in the liver or spleen
RBCs function and path of haematopoiesis
- Transport oxygen from lungs to the tissues
- Multipotent Haematopoetic Stem Cell > Common Myeloid Progenitor Cell > Reticulocyte > Erythrocyte
Neutrophils function and path of haematopoiesis
- Chemotaxis, phagocytosis and killing of phagocytosed cells
- Multipotent Haematopoetic Stem Cell > Common Myeloid Progenitor > Myeloblast > Neutrophil
Eosinophils function and path of haematopoiesis
- Neutrophil functions and antibody-dependent damage to parasites
- Immediate hypersensitivity
-Multipotent Haematopoetic Stem Cell > Common Myeloid Progenitor > Myeloblast > Eosiophil
Basophil function and path of haematopoiesis
- Immediate hypersensitivity
- Modulate inflammatory response via proteases and heparin
-Multipotent Haematopoetic Stem Cell > Common Myeloid Progenitor > Myeloblast > Basophil
Monocytes and macrophages function and path of haematopoiesis
- Chemotaxis
- Phagocytosis
- Killing of microorganisms
- Antigen presenting
- Release of Il-1 and TNF
Multipotent Haematopoetic Stem Cell > Myeloid Progenitor > Myeloblast > Monocyte > Macrophage
Platelet function and path of haematopoiesis
-Primary haemostasis
Multipotent haematopoetic stem cell > common myeloid progenitor > megakaryocyte > platelet
Lymphocytes function and path of haematopoiesis
-Immune response and haemopoietic growth factors
Multipotent haematopoetic stem cell> common Lymphoid Progenitor > Small lymphocyte > pre t cell and naive b cell
Average Haemoglobin levels for children, adult males, adult females and pregs females
Conversion of units
- Children 110-155 g/L (more as older)
- Adult males 130-170 g/L
- Adult females 120-155 g/L
- Pregs Females 110-150 g/L
1L= 10dL
What is MCV and how is it measured. Average number and conversion
- Mean corpuscle volume or Mean cell Volume
- Measure of the average volume of a red blood cell
- A volume of blood * Proportion of blood that is cellular / Number of erythrocytes in that volume of blood
- Normally 80-95 fL
- 10^15 fL = 1 L
Anaemia Definition and s/s
- Reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
- Defined by a low value for haemoglobin
- Rate at which anaemia develops detects its signs and symptoms
- Symptoms include lassitude (physical/mental weakness), fatigue, dyspnoea on exertion, palpitations, headache and chest pain
- Signs include pallor, tachycardia, wide pulse pressures, flow murmurs and congestive cardiac failure
Mechanisms of anaemia
Blood loss (trauma or GI bleeding)
Haemolytic (increased red blood cell breakdown) -Decreased red blood cell lifespan -Either: Congenital (sickle cell anaemia) Acquired (malaria, drugs)
Impairment of red blood cell formation
- Insufficient erythropoiesis
- Ineffective erytropoiesis
Pooling and destruction of the spleen
Increased plasma volume
- Pregnancy
- Decrease in haemoglobin concentration so apparent anaemia
Classification of anaemia and on what is it based
Examples of each category
-Classified by MCV
-Microcytic Anaemia (<80fL):
Iron Deficiency
Thalassaemia
-Normocytic Anaemia (80-100fL)
Acute blood loss
Anaemia of chronic disease
Chronic renal failure
-Macrocytic Anaemia (>100fL)
Alcoholism
Folate deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Microcytic anaemia is primarily a result of haemoglobin synthesis failure/insufficiency
- Macrocytic anaemia is primarily caused by a failure of DNA synthesis
- Normocytic anaemia occurs when the overall haemglobin levels are decreased, but the erythrocyte size remains normal
Definition, type and mechanisms of iron-deficiency anaemia
- Most common cause of anaemia worldwide
- Microcytic anaemia
- Excess iron potentially toxic so body tightly controls absorption
- Develops via 3 mechanisms:
1) Poor dietary intake (vegetarians and vegans)
2) Malabsorption (duodenum- Coeliac disease)
3) Increased loss (Peptic ulceration, inflammatory bowel disease, malignancy or hookwork infestation)
Manifestations of iron deficiency anaemia
-Mild deficiency typically asymptomatic
- Koilonychia (spoon nails)
- Angular Cheilitis
- Atrophic glossitis (smooth, glossy tongue often painful and tender)
- Recurrent oral ulceration (small mouth ulcers)
- Burning mouth
- Oesophageal web
Investigations and management of iron-deficiency anaemia
- Identify cause
- Red flags include men and post-menopausal women
- Investigations include blood film and iron studies
- Address underlying cause
- Oral supplementation (ferrous sulphate 200mg times day for 3 months)
- Parenteral available
Examples of normocytic anaemia
- 80-100fL
- Anaemia’s of chronic disease
- Acute blood loss
- Chronic inflammatory conditions (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Chronic infections (tuberculosis)
- Malignancies
- Chronic Renal Disease
Classification of macrocytic anaemia
- Divided into
1) Megaloblastic erythropoiesis- abnormal rbc development due to disordered DNA synthesis
2) Normoblastic erythropoiesis- normal red cell maturation
Definition and causes of megaloblastic folate anaemia
- Folate is essential for DNA synthesis
- Derived from many food sources, especially green leafy vegetables
-Causes of deficiency include:
Inadequate intake (elderly, alcoholism)
Malabsorption (Coeliac disease, jejunal resection)
Increased requirement (pregnancy, haemolytic anaemias)
Increased loss (dialysis, liver disease, congestive heart failure)
Drugs (methotrexate, phenytoin)
How to make a diagnosis of anaemia and distinguish between all the different types
- Do a FBC
- Check Haemoglobin levels
- <130g/L in male, <120g/L in females suggests some sort of anaemia
-Then check Mean Corpuscle Volume
- Microcytic anaemia occurs in patients with MCV <80fL
- Then you can do iron studies +/- Mentzer Index (helps distinguish if iron deficiency or thalassaemia)
- Examples include iron deficiency and thalassaemia
- Normocytic anaemia if 80-100fL
- If there is an increased reticulocyte count, suggests either haemolytic anaemia or blood loss as the body is trying to compensate and replenish the lost blood cells
- If reticulocyte count is down, it suggests there may be a bone marrow disorder as the bone marrow is unable to produce adequate RBCs
- Macrocytic Anaemia (>100fL)
- Megoloblastic if blood film shows large immature RBCs
- Also shows hypersegmented neutrophils
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, Folate deficiency or Drug induced
- Non megaloblastic if blood film only shows large, mature RBCs suggesting alcoholism, hypothyroidism and pregnancy
Definitions and causes of megaloblastic Vitamin B12 anaemiaRB
- Vitamin B12 is required in a number of enzymatic reactions
- Found only in foods of animal origin
- Deficiency impacts of DNA synthesis
-Causes of deficiency include:
Inadequate intake
Inadequate secretion of intrinsic factor (gastrectomy, pernicious anaemia)
Inadequate release from food (gastritis, PPI, EtOH abuse)
Diversion of dietary B12 (bacterial overgrowth, small intestinal strictures)
Malabsorption (Crohn’s Disease, ileal resection)
Clinical features of folate and B12 deficiencies
-Folate and Vitamin 12 Deficiencies Generic symptoms and signs of anaemia Occasionally mild jaundice Glossitis Oral ulceration
-Vitamin B12
Peripheral neuropathy (loss of proprioception and vibration sense)
Demyelination with subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord
Investigations and Management of folate and B12 deficiencies
-Identify the cause
- Investigations will include a blood film
- Megaloblastic anaemia if blood film shows large, immature RBCs
- Non-megaloblastic anaemia if blood film shows large, mature, RBCs
-Check serum folate and B12 levels (low B12 can lead to low folate so must always be tested together)
- Address underlying cause
- Oral supplementation (never folate only if B12 level is not known)
- Parenteral Vitamin B12 (IM) is required in pernicious anaemia
Causes of normoblastic macrocytosis
- Alcohol excess
- Liver dysfunction
- Hypothyroidism
Classification of haemolytic anaemias
-Either congenital or acquired
-Congenital
Membrane Defects
Enzyme Defects
Globin Defects
-Acquired
Immune (autoimmune or alloimmune)
Non-immune
Congenital haemolytic anaemia classification and examples
-Membrane Defects
Number of proteins essential to maintain cell membrane integrity
Any mutation leads to increased fragility and haemolysis
Hereditary spherocytosis most common congenital
-Enzyme defects
Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Involved in glucose metabolism
Deficiency results in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress
-Globin defects
Acquired haemolytic anaemias classification
Immune
- IgG coated red cells interacting with macrophages resulting in phagocytosis
- Autoimmune process with antibodies against RBCs (including idiopathic or secondary to infections, drugs, SLE)
- Alloimmune results from transfusion and production of antibodies to transfused red cell
Non-immune
-Mechanical trauma (metallic valves), burns, infections or drugs
Clinical features of haemolytic anaemias
-Vary depending on the cause
- Pallor
- Jaundice (due to elevated bilirubin)
- Splenomegaly
- Expansion of erythropoiesis leading to bone deformities and pathological fractures
Haemoglobin definition structure and function
- Fundamental role of oxygen transportation
- Normal Hb comprises of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains
- Each globin (protein) group is associated with a haem group (protoporphyrin ring and iron)
- 4 globin subunits (2a, 2b), 4 haem groups
- Hb undergoes a conformational change between oxygen bound and unbound states
- Altering affinity for oxygen (loads o2 in high o2 tension environment and releases it in low environments)