Haemolytic anaemia Flashcards

1
Q

2 categories of haemolytic anaemia

A
  1. Inherited conditions:
    - cause RBCs to be more fragile and break down faster than normal
    - Leads to chronic haemolytic anaemia
  2. Acquired conditions:
    - Lead to increased RBC breakdown and haemolytic anaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Inherited haemolytic anaemias:

A
  • Hereditary Spherocytosis
  • Hereditary Elliptocytosis
  • Thalassaemia
  • Sickle Cell Anaemia
  • G6PD Deficiency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Acquired haemolytic anaemias:

A
  • Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
  • Alloimmune haemolytic anaemia (transfusions reactions and haemolytic disease of newborn)
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
  • Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
  • Prosthetic valve related haemolysis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Features of haemolytic anaemia:

A

Anaemia
- due to reduction of circulating RBCs

Splenomegaly:
- spleen filled with destroyed RBCs

Jaundice:
- Bilirubin is released during the destruction of RBCs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Investigation for haemolytic anaemia:

A

FBC - Shows normocytic anaemia

Blood film - shows schistocytes (RBC fragments)

Direct Coombs Test - positive in AUTOimmune haemolytic anaemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Most common inherited haemolytic anaemia in northern europeans:

A

Hereditary Spherocytosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Hereditary spherocytosis characteristics and presentation:

A

Autosomal dominant

Spherical RBCs - fragile and easily broken in spleen

Presentation:

  • Jaundice, gallstones, splenomegaly
  • APLASTIC CRISIS in presence of parvovirus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Hereditary spherocytosis diagnosis:

A

Diagnosed by family history and clinical features
BLOOD FILM: spherocytes on the blood film

The mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is raised - on FBC

Raised reticulocytes (rapid turnover)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Management of hereditary spherocytosis

A

Folate supplementation
Splenectomy

Cholecystectomy - if gall stones become a problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Hereditary Elliptocytosis:

A

Same as hereditary spherocytosis except RBCs are ellipse shaped

Autosomal dominant

Presentation and treatment are the same as well

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

G6PD Deficiency: general

A

Defect in RBC enzyme G6PD

More common in mediterranean and african patients

X linked recessive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

G6PD Deficiency crisis triggers

A

Infections

Fava/broad beans

Medications -

  • primaquine (an antimalarial),
  • ciprofloxacin
  • sulfonylureas
  • sulfasalazine
  • sulphonamide drugs.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Presentation of patient with G6PD haemolytic anaemia

A

Jaundice (usually during neonatal period)

Gallstones

Anaemia

Splenomegaly

Heinz bodies on blood film

Diagnosis can be made by doing a G6PD enzyme assay.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Diagnosis of G6PD deficiency

A

G6PD enzyme assay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA)

A

occurs when antibodies are created against the patient’s red blood cells. - lead to destruction of RBCs

2 types based on temperature at which auto-antibodies function - to cause destruciton
Warm type
Cold type

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Warm Type Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia

A

more common type.

Haemolysis occurs at normal or above normal temperatures.

It is usually idiopathic, meaning that it arises without a clear cause.

17
Q

Cold Type Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia

A

This is also called cold agglutinin disease

At lower temperatures (e.g. less than 10ºC) the antibodies against RBCs attach themselves to the RBCs and cause them to clump together (agglutination)

Results in destruction - immune system activated against them and they get filtered and destroyed in spleen

Often secondary to other conditions such as:
- lymphoma, leukaemia, systemic lupus erythematosus

or infections such as:
- mycoplasma, EBV, CMV and HIV.

18
Q

Cold type AIHA is often secondary to other conditions such as

A

lymphoma,
leukaemia,
systemic lupus erythematosus

infections such as:
mycoplasma,
EBV, 
CMV 
HIV.
19
Q

Management of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

A

Blood transfusions

Prednisolone (steroids)

Rituximab (a monoclonal antibody against B cells)

Splenectomy

20
Q

Alloimmune Haemolytic Anaemia

A

Occurs either when:

  • there is foreign RBC circulating (destroying foreign RBCs)
  • there is foreign antibody circulating (acts against own RBCs causing hemolysis)

2 scenarious when this occurs:

  • transfusion reactions
  • Haemolytic disease of newborn
21
Q

hemolytic transfusion reactions

A

Type of Alloimmune Haemolytic Anaemia

Immune system produces antibodies against antigens on those foreign RBCs

Creates immune response that leads to the destruction of those RBCs

22
Q

haemolytic disease of the newborn

A

Type of Alloimmune Haemolytic Anaemia

There are antibodies that cross placenta from mother to foetus

Maternal antibodies target antigens on RBCs of the foetus

Causes destruction of RBCS in the foetus and neonate

23
Q

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria

A

rare condition that occurs when a specific genetic mutation in the haematopoietic stem cells in the bone barrow occurs during the patients lifetime

Mutation results in loss of proteins on the surface of RBCs that inhibit the conplement cascade
- loss of protection against complement cascade results in activation on the surface of RBCs resulting in destruction

24
Q

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria

Presentation

A

Characteristic presentation is red urine in the morning containing haemoglobin and haemosiderin

Patient anaemic due to haemolysis

Patient predisposed to:

  • thrombosis - (DVT, PE, hepatic vein thromboses)
  • Smooth muscle dystonia (oesophageal spasm and erectile dysfunction)
25
Q

Management of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria

A

Eculizumab or bone marrow transplantation

Eculizumab - monoclonal antibody that targets C5 complement protein
- causing suppression of complement system

Bone marrow transplantation can be curative

26
Q

Microangiopathic Haemolytic Anaemia (MAHA)

A

Small BVs have structural abnormalities that cause haemolysis of the blood cells travelling through them

Usually secondary to an underlying condition

27
Q

Conditions that can lead to Microangiopathic Haemolytic Anaemia (MAHA) (x5)

A

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (TTP)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Cancer

28
Q

Prosthetic Valve Haemolysis

A

Haemolytic anaemia is key complication of prosthetic heart valves

Occurs in both bioprosthetic and metallic valve replacement

Caused by collision of RBCs with implanted valve

29
Q

Management of Prosthetic Valve Haemolysis

A

Monitoring

Oral iron

Blood transfusion if severe

Revision surgery may be required in severe cases