Haematopoiesis and leukemia Flashcards
List the types of white blood cells. (5)
Neutrophil
Basophil
Eosinophil
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
List the haematopoiesis pathway of white blood cell formation.
Blood stem cell –> myeloid stem cell –> myeloblast –> eosinophil, neutrophil, basophil
Blood stem cell –> lymphoid stem cell –> lymphoblast –> B cells, T cells Etc.
What are the features and functions of neutrophils?
Features
• Multi-lobed nucleus/ tri lobed
• Very tiny light staining granules
Functions
• Kill bacteria
• Pus formation
What are the features and functions of basophils?
Features
• Bi-lobed or tri-lobed. Whole cells looks pink/ purple
• Granular
• Large, stain deep blue to purple granules
Functions
• Contains histamine and contribute to allergy
• Early response in injury
What are the features and functions of eosinophils?
Features
• Bi-lobed, appears purple
• Granular
• Acidophilic, large, pink or red granules
Functions
• Parasitic infections
What are the features and functions of lymphocytes?
Features
• Very large nucleus and stains dark purple (almost fills the cell leaving a very thin rim of cytoplasm)
• Agranular
• T cells, B cells
Functions
• Secondary immune response
What are the features and functions of monocytes?
Features
• “U” shape or kidney bean shaped nucleus. Huge
• Agranular
Functions
• Kill bacteria, viruses
• Eat debris
• Wide role in controlling immunity and inflammation
• Leave the blood stream to become macrophages
What is leukaemia?
Cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues
Outline the classification of leukaemia
- Lymphocytic leukaemia develops in the white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow
- Myeloid leukaemia may also start in white blood cells other than lymphocytes, as well as red blood cells and platelets
Classified then on how quickly disease progresses:
• Acute leukaemia: rapidly progressing, results in the accumulation of immature, functionless blood cells in the bone marrow. Cells reproduce and build up in the marrow, decreasing the marrow’s ability to produce enough healthy blood cells
• Chronic leukaemia: slower progressing, results in the accumulation of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells.\
List the types of leukaemia
- Acute myeloid leukaemia: bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia CML: bone marrow produces too many white cells, called granulocytes. They crowd the bone marrow, interfering with normal blood cell production. Also, since they’re immature, they can’t work properly
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ALL: bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia CLL: a type of slow-growing leukaemia that affects developing B-lymphocytes
Brief the difference between leukaemia and lymphoma
- Inleukaemia the cancer cells are mainlyin thebone marrow and blood
- Inlymphomacancer cells are in lymph nodes and other tissues. Here, you’ll experience enlarged lymph nodes/ spleen, gingval mass (Burkitt lymphoma), fever, sweating at night, tiredness
List clinical presentations of leukaemia
- Low RBC: anaemia, tiredness, paleness
- Low WBCs: predisposed to infections
- Low platelets: lots of bleeding
Detail the common oral manifestations of leukaemia
- Bleeding : Petechiae (red dots on skin), purpura (large, purple coloured spots) ecchymosis (bruising)
- Anaemia/ mucosal pallor
- Ulcers
- Bleeding because of inability to clot
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Secondary infections: Oral candidiasis, viral infections, bacterial infections
- Haemorrhagic gingival enlargement: with or without necrosis
- Oral mucositis after chemotherapy (breakdown of oral epithelium)
Understand the oral complications in stem cell transplantation
- Source: Autologous (from self) vs Allogeneic (another individual) vs Syngeneic (from identical twin)
- Graft-versus-host disease GVHD: after an allogeneic transplant, donated cells attack the recipient’s body
- Immunosuppression: could affect oral health
GVHD:
• Oral mucositis: can range from painful/ erosive, ulcerative painful, or non painful lesions
• Dry mouth and rampant caries as it affects salivary glands
