Hematology Flashcards
all forms of anemia lead to
fatigue/loss of energy
pt with severe anemia will have
SOB, lightheadedness, or confusion
diseases with similar presentations to anemia:
- hypoxia
- CO poisoning
- methemoglobinemia
- ischemic heart disease
craving for ice or dirt, think
anemia
physical exam findings on anemic patient
- pallor
- flow murmur
- pale conjunctiva
physical exam findings in hemolytic anemia
- jaundice
- scleral icterus
in severe anemia, what is needed to exclude ischemia?
EKG
best INITIAL test for anemia
CBC with peripheral smear
additional initial tests for anemia
- reticulocyte count
- haptoglobin
- LDH
- total and direct bilirubin
- TSH and free T4
- B12/folate levels
- iron studies
- UA w/ microanalysis
categorization of anemia is based on
MCV (mean corpuscular volume)
what value may indicate if there’s a problem with the synthesis of Hb?
MCHC (mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)
anemia categorized based on MCV is as follows:
- microcytic
- macrocytic
- normocytic
based on MCHC anemia can be further categorized as follows:
- hypochromic
- hyperchromic
- normochromic
- blood loss
- THROMBOCYTOSIS
what is the diagnosis?
IDA
- RA
- ESRD
- any chronic infectious, inflammatory, or connective tissue disease
what is the diagnosis?
ACD
- very small MCV w/ few or no symptoms
- TARGET cells
what is the diagnosis?
thalassemia
- alcoholic
- INH
- lead exposure
what is the diagnosis?
sideroblastic anemia
best INITIAL test for IDA, ACD, thalassemia, or sideroblastic anemia
iron studies
results of iron studies in IDA
- low ferritin
- high TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
- low iron
- low iron saturation
- elevated RDW (red cell distribution width)
results of iron studies in ACD
- HIGH ferritin (acute phase reactant)
- low TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
- low iron
- normal or low iron saturation
results of iron studies in thalassemia
NORMAL
results of iron studies in sideroblastic anemia
HIGH IRON
MOST ACCURATE test for IDA
bone marrow biopsy (don’t do this on CCS exam)
MOST ACCURATE test for thalassemia
Hb electrophoresis
beta: elevated HbA2, and HbF
(alpha: normal)
MOST ACCURATE test for sideroblastic anemia
Prussian blue stain
best INITIAL treatment for IDA
ferrous sulfate PO
best INITIAL treatment for ACD
correct underlying cause
best INITIAL treatment for thalassemia
no treatment for trait
best INITIAL treatment for sideroblastic anemia
minor: pyridoxine (vitamin B6)
major: remove toxin exposure
MOST ACCURATE test for ALPHA thalassemia
DNA sequencing
name the 4 types of microcytic anemia
- IDA
- ACD
- thalassemia
- sideroblastic anemia
causes of macrocytic anemia
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- folate deficiency
which medication blocks B12 absorption?
metformin
B12 deficiency causes:
- hypersegmented neutrophils
- peripheral neuropathy (can cause any neuro sx)
- glossitis (smooth tongue)
- diarrhea
folate deficiency causes:
- hypersegmented neutrophils only
labs seen in B12 defiicincy
- DECREASED reticulocyte count
- elevated bilirubin
- elevated LDH
mechanism of elevated indirect bilirubin and LDH in B12 deficiency
“ineffective erythropoiesis”
RBCs are destroyed as they leave bone marrow
MOST ACCURATE tests for B12 and folate deficiencies
B12 and folate levels
next step if B12 deficiency is SUSPECTED, but B12 level is NORMAL
methylmalonic acid level
after finding low B12 level or elevated methylmalonic acid level, next best step to confirm etiology of B12 deficiency
antiparietal cell Ab and anti-intrinsic factor Ab
treatment for B12 and folate deficiencies
replace
first thing that improves after B12 replacement therapy
reticulocytes
last thing that improves after B12 replacement therapy
neurological abnormalities
name the hemolytic anemias (9)
- sickle cell anemia
- Hb sickle cell disease
- autoimmune hemolysis
- cold-induced hemolysis (cold agglutinins)
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- pyruvate kinase deficiency
- hereditary spherocytosis
- hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
all forms of hemolytic anemia present with
SUDDEN ONSET of weakness and fatigue
diagnostic testing for hemolysis shows the following
- elevated indirect bilirubin
- elevated reticulocyte count
- elevated LDH
- decreased haptoglobin
- spherocytes on smear
in hemolysis, why is indirect bilirubin elevated, and haptoglobin decreased?
- limited capacity of liver to glucuronidate indirect to DIRECT bilirubin
- haptoglobin is a transport for indirect bilirubin which is quickly used up
what electrolyte should be monitored after treating vitamin B12 deficiency?
K+ (can be low)
- very severe chest, back, and thigh pain
sickle cell anemia
best INITIAL treatment for sickle cell anemia
- OXYGEN
- HYDRATION
- PAIN MEDICATIONS
- ABX (ceftriaxone, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin)
why is FEVER an EMERGENCY in a pt w/ sickle cell anemia?
NO SPLEEN
tests that should be ordered for pt with sickle anemia
- blood cultures
- UA
- reticulocyte count
- CBC
- CXR
if fever is present after treatment for sickle cell anemia, then?
physical examination
possible physical exam findings in sickle cell anemia:
- HEENT
- CVS
- respiratory
- abdomen
- extremities
- neurological
HEENT- retinal infarction
CV- flow murmur from anemia
respiratory- rales, or consolidation from infection or infarction
abdomen- splenomegaly in children, absence of spleen in adults
extremities- skin ulcers, aseptic necrosis of hip (found on MRI)
neurological- stroke (current or previous)
when is exchange transfusion done in sickle cell anemia?
- eye: visual disturbance from retinal infarction
- lung: pulmonary infarction leading to pleuritic chest pain and abnormal CXR
- penis: priapism from infarction of prostatic plexus of veins
- brian: stroke
what is the goal of exchange transfusion?
decrease Hb S to 30-40%
- sudden drop in hematocrit in pt with hemoglobinopathy
- low reticulocyte count
- parvovirus B19
- folate deficiency
MOST ACCURATE test for parvovirus B19
PCR for parvovirus DNA
treatment for sickle cell crisis d/t parvovirus B19
transfusions and IVIG
sickle cell anemia patients should be discharged on:
- folate
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- hydroxyurea, if crises occur > 4x/year
MOA of hydroxyurea
increases % of Hb F
sickle cell disease manifestations
- visual disturbance (frequent)
- hematuria
- isosthenuria (inability to concentrate/dilute urine)
- UTIs
sickle cell trait manifestations
- hematuria
- isosthenuria
- splenic vein thrombosis can occur with severe hypoxia
look for other autoimmune diseases in history, or medications
autoimmune hemolysis
diagnostic tests for autoimmune hemolysis
- elevated LDH
- elevated indirect bilirubin
- elevated reticulocyte count
- decreased haptoglobin
peripheral smear will show what in autoimmune hemolysis
spherocytes
MOST ACCURATE diagnostic test for autoimmune hemolysis
Coombs test
best INITIAL treatment for autoimmune hemolysis
steroids
treatment if RECURRENT episodes of hemolysis
rituximab
MOST EFFECTIVE treatment if RECURRENT episodes of hemolysis
splenectomy
mechanism of spherocytes in autoimmune hemolysis
Abs attack RBC membranes which are biconcave turning them into spheres
in autoimmune hemolysis, steroids and splenectomy only work on?
IgG Abs “warm antibodies”
if severe hemolysis does not respond to steroids or repeated blood transfusions use
IVIG
a response to IVIG predicts a response to
splenectomy
cold-induced hemolysis (cold agglutinins); look for what in the history?
- mycoplasma
- Epstein-Barr virus
in cold-induced hemolysis Coombs test will be?
NEGATIVE
in cold-induced hemolysis complement test will be?
POSITIVE
treatment for in cold-induced hemolysis
rituximab
will steroids, splenectomy, or IVIG work for cold-induced hemolysis?
NO
MOA of rituximab
MAB against CD20R on lymphocytes which make Abs
syphilis causes cold agglutinins with?
IVIG
- sudden onset hemolysis
- X-linked
- oxidant stress causes acute hemolysis
- MC oxidant stress = infection
- sulfa, primaquine, dapsone, fava beans
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
best INITIAL test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- Heinz body test
- bite cells
Heinz bodies are
collection of oxidized, precipitated Hb embedded in RBC membrane
bite cells are
pieces of RBC membrane removed by spleen
MOST ACCURATE test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
G6PD LEVEL, BUT ONLY AFTER 2 MONTHS HAVE PASSED from acute episode (otherwise, may be falsely normal)
treatment for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
avoid oxidant stress
- sudden onset hemolysis
- NOT provoked (unclear cause)
pyruvate kinase deficiency
- recurrent episodes of hemolysis
- splenomegaly
- bilirubin gallstones
- elevated mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC)
hereditary spherocytosis
MOST ACCURATE test for hereditary spherocytosis
osmotic fragility test
treatment for hereditary spherocytosis
splenectomy
mechanism of hereditary spherocytosis
genetic loss of ankyrin and spectrin in RBC membrane
hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) diagnosis is based on
IT’S IN THE NAME!!!
- intravascular hemolysis (Autoimmune hemolysis)
- elevated BUN and creatinine (Renal failure)
- thrombocytopenia (Thrombocytopenia)
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) diagnosis is based on
- intravascular hemolysis
- elevated BUN and creatinine
- thrombocytopenia
AND
- fever
- neurological abnormalities
never use what in HUS or TTP?
platelets
what is LOW in TTP?
ADAMTS-13 level
treatment for HUS/TTP
- some cases resolve on their own
- severe cases: plasmapheresis
what makes HUS worse?
antibiotics
mechanism of HUS/TTP
ADAMTS-13 = metalloproteinase that breaks down VWF to RELEASE platelets from one another
if VWF is NOT dissolved, platelets form abnormally long strands and RBCs break down as they pass through
- pancytopenia
- recurrent episodes of dark urine, especially in morning
- MCC of death = large vessel venous thrombosis
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) can transform into
- aplastic anemia
- acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
MOST ACCURATE test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
CD55 and CD59 Abs (aka, decay accelerating factor)
best INITIAL treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
glucocorticoids
treatment for transfusion-dependent pts with severe paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)
eculizumab
MOA of eculizumab
inhibits C-5 and prevents complement activation
how can HELLP syndrome be distinguished from DIC?
HELLP has NORMAL coagulation studies
- SOB for no clear reason
- clear lungs on exam
- normal CXR
methemoglobinemia