Hem-Onc pathology Flashcards
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Spleen produces anti-GpIIb/IIIa antibodies and consumes platelet/antibody complex.
Acute form arises after viral infection/immunization
Chronic form may arise secondary to SLE
Normal PT/PTT
Tx: corticosteroids, splenectomy
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Platelets are consumed in production of platelet microthrombi within small vessels
Shearing of RBCs by microthrombi produce schistocytes
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - decreased ADAMTS13 (vWF metalloprotease) leads to platelet adhesion to large vWF multimers; CNS abnormalities
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome - E. coli verotoxin damages endothelial cells resulting in platelet microthrombi; renal insufficiency
Tx: plasmapharesis, corticosteroids
Bernad-Soulier syndrome
Genetic GPIb deficiency impairs platelet adhesion to vWF
Mild thrombocytopenia and enlarged platelets
Glanzmann thrombasthenia
Genetic GPIIb/IIIa deficiency impairs platelet-to-platelet aggregation (via fibrinogen)
No platelet clumping seen on blood smear
Hemophilia A
X-linked recessive factor VIII deficiency (“A” = 8)
Elevated PTT; normal PT, PC, BT
Hemophilia B
Genetic factor IX deficiency
Elevated PTT; normal PT, PC, BT
von Willebrand disease
Genetic (usually AD) vWF deficiency
Increased BT, Increased PTT (vWF normally stabilized FVIII), normal PT
Abnormal ristocetin test (ristocetin causes vWF to bind platelet GPIb; decreased agglutination is diagnostic)
Tx: desmopressin (ADH analog, increases vWF release from Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells)
Vitamin K deficiency
Vitamin K is normally activated by epoxide reductase in the liver; activated Vitamin K gamma carboxylates factors II, VII, IX, X, and proteins C (shorted t1/2) and S
Deficiency occurs in newborns (lack of GI colonizations), long-term antibiotic thearpy, malabsorption
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Widespread activation of coagulation cascade, resulting in widespread microthrombi and consumption of platelets and clotting factors
Causes: gram negative sepsis, trauma, obstetric complications, acute pancreatitis, malignancy, nephrotic syndrome, transfusion
Decreased PC, Increased BT, Increased PT/PTT, Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (schistocytes), Increased fibrin split products (D-dimers), Decreased fibrinogen
Fibrinolysis disorders
Normally, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) converts plasminogen to plasmin
Plasmin cleaves fibrin and serum fibrinogen, destroys coagulation factors, and blocks platelet aggregation
alph2-antiplasmin inactivates plasmin
Plasmin overactivity results in increased BT, normal PC, increased PT/PTT, and increased fibrinogen split products (no D-dimers, unlike DIC)
Tx: aminocaproic acid (blocks plasminogen activation)
Causes of endothelial cell damage
- Atherosclerosis
- Vasculitis
- Hyperhomocystenemia:
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
- Cystathionine beta synthase deficiency (vessel thrombosis, mental retardation, lens dislocation, long slender fingers)
Protein C or S deficiency
Autosomal dominant hypercoagulable state
Proteins C and S normally inactivate factors V and VIII
Increased risk for warfarin skin necrosis
Factor V Leiden
Hypercoagulable state due to a mutated form of factor V that lacks the cleavage site for deactivation by proteins C and S
Most common inherited cause of hypercoagulable state
ATIII deficiency
Hypercoagulable state resulting in decreased protective effects of heparin-like molecules produced by the endothelium
In ATIII deficiency, PTT does not rise with standard heparin dosing
May be acquired through nephrotic syndrome
Causes of iron deficiency
- Breast-feeding
- Poor diet
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Menorrhagia/pregnancy
- Colon polyps/carcinoma
- Hookworm (Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus)
- Gastrectomy (acid maintains Fe+2 state, aids in absorption)
Stages of iron deficiency
- Depletion of storage iron (decreased ferritin, increased TIBC)
- Depletion of serum iron (decreased % saturation)
- Normocytic anemia (BM makes fewer but normal-sized RBCs)
- Microcytic, hypochromic anemia
Concomitant normocytic and microcytic anemias increase RDW
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Iron deficiency anemia with esophageal web and atrophic glossitis
Presents as anemia, dysphagia, and beefy-red tongue
Hepcidin
Acute phase reactant that limits iron transfer from macrophages to erythroid precursors and suppresses EPO production
Important in pathophysiology of anemia of chronic disease
Sideroblastic anemia
Microcytic anemia caused by defective protoporphyrin synthesis leading to an accumulation of iron in mitochondria
Congenital defect: X-linked defect in aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALAS) gene (ALAS normally converts succinyl CoA to ALA using vit B6 as a cofactor)
Acquired defects: alcoholism (mitrchondrial poison), lead poisoning (inhibits ALAD and ferrochelatase), vit B6 deficiency (required cofactor for ALAS; side effect of isoniazid tx)
Ringed sideroblasts and lab findings of iron-overloaded state (increased ferritin, decreased TIBC, increased serum iron, increased % saturation)
Lead poisoning
Inhibits ferrochelatase (mitochondrial enzyme that combines protoporphyrin with Fe+2 to produce heme)
Inhibits ALA dehydratase (cytosomal enzyme that converts ALA to prophobilinogen)
Protoporphyrin and ALA accumulate in the blood
Presents as sideroblastic anemia with basophilic stippling (inhibits rRNA degradation), “lead lines” on gingivae (Burton lines) and metaphyses of long bones, encephalopathy, abdominal colic, and wrist/foot drop.
Tx: Dimercaprol, EDTA, Succimer (chelating agents)
Acute intermittent porphyria
Defective porphobilinogen deaminase (cytosomal enzyme that converts porphobilinogen to hydroxymethylbilane)
Porphobilinogen, ALA, and coporphobilinogen accumulate in urine
Presents as “5 P’s”: Painful abdomen, Port wine-colored urine, Polyneuropathy, Psychological disturbances, Precipitated by drugs, alcohol, and starvation
Tx: glucose and heme (inhibit ALA synthase)
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Deficient uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (cytosomal enzyme that converts uroporphyrinogen III to coproporphyrinogen III)
Uroporphyrin accumulates (tea-colored urine)
Presents as blistering cutaneous photosensitivity.
Most common porphyria
Alpha-thalassemia
Deletion of alpha globin gene
cis deletion prevalent in Asian populations (increased risk of severe thalassemia in offspring)
trans deletion prevalent in African populations
3 allele deletion - beta-chains form tetramers (HbH)
4 allele deletion - gamma-chains form tetramers (Hb barts); lethal in utero (hydrops fetalis)
Beta-thalassemia
Decreased beta-globin synthesis due to point mutations in splice sites and promoter sequences
Prevalant in Mediterranean populations
Beta-thalassemia minor - beta chain is underproduced; increased HbA2
Beta-thalassemia major -beta chain is absent; increased HbF; requires blood transfusion; marrow expansion and extramedullary hematopoiesis
HbS/Beta-thalassemia heterozygote - mild to moderate sickle cell disease
Folate deficiency
Causes: poor diet (alcoholics), increased demand (hemolytic anemia, pregnancy), folate antagonists (methotrexate)
Folate is absorbed in the jejunum
Symptoms: megaloblastic anemia with hypersegmented neutrophils, glossitis, increased serum homocysteine (increased risk for thrombosis), normal methylmalonic acid
Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Pernicious anemia (autoimmune destruction of parietal cells)
- Pancreatic insufficiency (lack of pancreatic proteases result in failure to detach vit B12 from R-binder)
- Damage to terminal ileum (e.g. Crohn disease or Diphyllobothrium latum [fish tapeworm])
- Vegan diet
- Proton pump inhibitors
Symptoms: megaloblastic anemia with hypersegmented neutrophils, glossitis, increased serum homocysteine (increased risk for thrombosis), increased methylmalonic acid (impairs spinal cord myelinization, results in subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord)
Subacute combined degeneration: poor proprioception and vibratory sensation, and spastic paresis