Hematology Flashcards
Diagnosis:
Neonate with
- Persistent jaundice
- Splenomegaly
- Hemolytic anemia
- Positive family history
- Spherocytes on peripheral blood smear
Hereditary Spherocytosis
Diagnosis:
Hereditary Spherocytosis
- Acidified glycerol lysis–> RBC fragility
2. Eosin-5-maleimide binding test
Which pregnant women are administered a dose of anti-D immune globulin at 28 weeks gestation?
Rh-D negative mothers with Rh-D positive fetuses
Standard dose= 300 ug at 28 weeks gestation
What is the Kleihauer-Betke (KB) test used for?
The Kelihauer-Betke test is used to determine if an increased dosage of anti-D immune globulin is needed in pregnant Rh-D negative women who have experienced: (1) placental abruption (2) delivery of a Rh-D positive fetus or (3) any other procedure (eg, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, external cephalic version)
*KB test: Acid is added to a smear of maternal RBC cells. Maternal RBCs are lysed leaving fetal cells behind. Fetal cells are calculated to determine the dosage of anti-D immune globulin.
What is the most common complication seen in patients with sickle cell trait?
(1) Painless hematuria
Note, SCT carriers can also experience: (2) isothenuria-impaired concentrating ability presenting as nocturia and polyuria (3) UTIs-especially during pregnancy.
Treatment:
Patient with a PMHx significant for COPD is found to have a proximal DVT and an active GI bleed
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter
Patients with a DVT who have contraindications to anticoagulation (recent surgery, acute hemorrhagic stroke, bleeding diathesis, or active bleed) or recurrent DVT after treatment with anticoagulation should be considered for an IVC filter.
What is Virchow’s triad?
- Stasis
- Endothelial injury
- Hyper-coagulability
This triad of findings can result in a deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
What is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in whites of northern European ancestry?
Pernicious Anemia
Diagnosis:
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Atrophic glossitis (shiny tongue)
- Vitiligo
- Thyroid disease
- Neurologic abnormalities
Pernicious Anemia
Treatment:
What is the acute management for a deep vein thrombosis? What is the long term management?
Acute Tx: Heparin
Long-term Tx: Warfarin for several months
Note, major surgery is a significant risk factor for DVT. Patients should be started on anticoagulation as early as 48-72 hours after surgery.
Diagnosis:
1-year-old boy with a history of multiple episodes of otitis media and 2 hospitalizations for pneumonia is found to have:
- dry, scaly patches on his cheeks and lower extremities
- bruising and purpura on his lower extremities
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is an X-linked disorder that presents with a classic triad of:
(1) Hx of bacterial infections
(2) eczema
(3) thrombocytopenia
Pathogenesis:
Thrombocytopenia in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Deceased platelet production
Note, on blood smear the few platelets produced by the patients will appear smaller than normal.
What is the next best step in the management of a 3-year-old African American boy with a PMHx of severe upper extremity pain and hand swelling presenting with signs of stroke (e.g., hand clumsiness, difficulty walking)?
peripheral blood smear and reticulocyte count
This patient has a history of dactylitis and presents with signs of stroke. This is highly suspicious of sickle cell anemia.
How long does it take a person with underlying liver disease to deplete their vitamin K stores?
7-10 days
A normal liver will store a 30 day supply of Vitamin K.
What effect does vitamin K deficiency have on PT and PTT?
Both will be prolonged
Vitamin K deficiency results decreased plasma levels of Factors 2, 7, 9, 10, Protein C and S. First PT will be prolonged then the PTT will follow.
Rh(D) incompatibility vs. ABO incompatibility
Which causes more severe hemolytic disease of the newborn?
Rh(D) incompatibility
Infants affected by ABO incompatibility are typically asymptomatic at birth, have mild anemia, or develop jaundice which can be treated with phototherapy.
Management:
What is a good initial diagnostic step when treating a patient with microcytic, hypochromic anemia
Iron studies
Iron deficiency: low Fe, low ferritin, low transferrin saturation, high TIBC, increased RBDW
Thalassemias: normal to high Fe and ferritin
Anemia of Chronic disease: low TIBC, normal to increased ferritin
Sideroblastic anemia: normal to high serum iron and ferritin
What complication might present after starting a patient on heparin therapy?
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Patients develop thrombocytopenia, BUT are highly thrombogenic and must be monitored very closely for arterial and venous clots.
Seven acquired risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- Immobilization
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Malignancy
- Pregnancy
- Medication (OCPs)
- Connective tissue disease
How can you differentiate between folic acid and cobalamin deficiencies using: (1) homocysteine and (2) methylmalonic acid?
Both folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency will lead to INCREASED homocysteine levels, but ONLY vitamin B12 deficiency will cause an INCREASE in methylmalonic acid.
Which viral diseases should all patients presenting with seemingly idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura be tested for?
- Hepatitis C
2. HIV
Diagnosis:
- Hemolytic anemia
- Cytopenia
- Hypercoagulable state (intrabdominal or venous thrombosis)
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Diagnosis:
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Flow cytometry to confirm the absence of CD55 and CD59 proteins on the surface of the RBCs.
Diagnosis:
Patient develops an acute hemolysis after ingesting primaquine or a sulfa drug
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
Diagnosis:
Negative G6PD activity in a patient who developed an acute hemolysis after ingesting primaquine or a sulfa drug
Most likely Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)
Note, G6PD activity will appear normal during the hemolytic episode as all the G6PD-deficient RBCs have hemolyzed early and the normal reticulocytes are present in high number.
Differential diagnosis:
Top Ddx in a traffic controller who works in an underground parking lot who presents with:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Note, CBC may show an increased hematocrit due to the bodies increased hematopoesis to compensate for the increase in carboxyhemoglobinemia, a molecule with decreased O2 carrying capacity.
Common ways competitive athletes enhance their athletic performance?
- Exogenous androgens
- Autologous blood transfusions
- Erythropoietin
Clinical manifestation:
Exogenous androgen administration in a competitive male athlete
- Mood disturbance
- Gynecomastia
- Testicular atrophy
- Hepatotoxicity
What happens if you treat a vitamin B12 deficient patient with only folic acid?
Their anemia will be corrected, but neurologic complications will rapidly progress.