Haematology Diseases Flashcards
What is anaemia
Reduced RBC mass +/- reduced Hb conc in plasma
What is the lifespan of RBCs
120 days
What are the 3 causes of microcytic anaemia
Iron deficiency
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Why might someone be iron deficient
Not enough in diet
Haemorrhage - heavy periods
Breast milk iron def
Hookworm
What are the 3 causes of normocytic anaemia
Combined haematinic deficiency - B12 and iron
Acute blood loss
Chronic disease
What are the 4 causes of macrocytic anaemia
B12/folate def
Hypothyroidism
Excess alcohol consumption/liver disease
Haematological - cancer, bone marrow failure
What is polycythaemia
Too many RBCs
What is the main cause of polycythaemia (and other causes)
Smoking
Lung disease
Cyanotic heart disease
Polycythaemia rubra Vera (PRV)
What is neutrophilia
Too many neutrophils
What are the main causes of neutrophilia
Bacterial infection
Inflammation
Malignancies
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
What is the term for too many WBCs
Lymphocytosis
What are the causes of lymphocytosis
Infection inflammation malignancy
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
What is the term for high platelets
Thrombocytosis
What are the causes of thrombocytosis
Infection inflammation malignancies Essential thrombocythaemia (over active bone marrow)
What is thrombocytopenia
Low platelets
What is the term for low neutrophils
Neutropaenia
What are the underproduction and increased removal causes of neutropaenia
Underproduction = marrow failure/infiltration/toxicity
Increased removal = autoimmune, felty’s syndrome, cyclical
When the endothelium is damaged, what do platelets adhere to it via
Collagen and vWF
What does the binding of platelets to collagen/vWF stimulate
Cytoskeleton shape change -> ‘spread out’
When platelets are activated by a change in shape, granules are released containing what?
ADP, fibrinogen, thrombin, calcium
Activated platelets are cross linked, and aggregation occurs by what molecule
Fibrin
What is the lifespan of platelets
7-10 days
What are the clinical features of platelet dysfunction
Mucosal bleeding - gums, nose, large menstruation
Easy bruising
Petechial, purpura
Traumatic haematomas
Give some causes of thrombocytopenia due to decreased production
Congenital = reduced/malfunctioning megakaryocytes
Infiltration of BM = leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma, mets
Reduced platelet production by BM = low B12/folate, reduced TPO
Give some causes of thrombocytopenia due to increased destruction
Autoimmune = immune thrombocytopenia
Hypersplenism = portal HTN, splenomegaly
Drug related = heparin induced thrombocytopenia
Consumption of platelets = DIC, HUS, major haemorrhage
Name 3 types of medication affecting platelets
Aspirin = inhibit COX 1 Clopidogrel = blocks P2Y12 Tirofiban = blocks Gp IIb/IIIa
How many globin chains does a normal Hb molecule have
4: 2 alpha and 2 beta
What is the amino acid substitution in sickle cell
Valine -> glutamine
What is a carrier of sickle cell protected against
Falciparum malaria
Where is the DNA is the mutation in sickle cell
Beta globin gene on chromosome 11
What are the disease modifying Tx for sickle cell
Transfusion
Hydroxycarbamide
Stem cell transport
What is thalassaemia
Reduced production of alpha or beta globin chains