Hematology Flashcards
Common Bleeding disorders
- Hemophilia
- Von Willebrand’s disease (vWD)
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Hemophilia Facts
- Congital bleeding disoders caused by deficiency or absence of clotting factors:
- Hemophilia A: Factor VIII
- Hemophilia B: Factor IX
- X-linked: Inherited in male offspring by carrier mothers
- Female offspring of males with hemophilia are obligatory carriers
- No racial differences
Severity of Hemophilia
- Mild: 5-40% of normal factor present; only bleed with significant trauma
- Moderate 1-5% of normal factor present; usually do not bleed spontaneously
- Severe: <1% of normal factor present; often bleed spontaneously
Hemophilia diagnosis
aPTT: prolonged in hemophilia (assess factors VIII and IX)
- Usually diagnosed in childhood
- Screen at birth in child with family Hx
Hemophilia presentation
- Neonates: intracranial hemorrhage; bleeding at circumcision
- Infants: Excessive bruising in soft tissues
- Older children: spontaneous bleeding in joints
- – Hemarthrosis=70% of joint bleeds (knees, elbows, ankles)
- – May also occur in CNS, GI tract, soft tissues, and muscles
Hemophilia long-term complications
- Bleeding into joints, causing inflammatory damage
- Contractures
- Nerve damage
Treatment of hemophilia: non-pharmacologic
- Focused on preventing or stopping bleeding episodes
- Hemarthrosis: RICE, splinting, casts, crutches, PT
Medical Tx Hemophilia
- Desmopressin: Treats by increasing factor VIII
- Antifibrinolytics: Tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid
- – Treats bleeding by stabilizing fibrin clot; useful in mucosal bleeds and dental procedures
Hemophilia: Factor replacement
- TOC for acute bleeding in severe hemophilia
- Dose depends on severity and location
- Goal is to achieve hemostasis by adequately replacing factors:
- – 40-60% of normal for joint and muscle bleeds
- – 80-100% of normal for iliopsoas muscle, throat or neck, CNS, or GI bleeding
von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD)
- Autosomal dominant bleeding disorder
- Dysfunction or deficiency of vWF
- vWF has two roles: facilitates initial platelet plug at vascular injury; carrier of factor VIII, preventing its degradation
Types of vWD
- I: levels of vWF are decreased 5-30%; most common subtype
- II: levels of vWF are normal, but dysfunctional
- – Subtypes I and II usually present with mild bleeding after procedures, mucosal bleeding, menorrhagia, and nose bleeds
- III: Near or complete absence of vWF; bleeding similar to hemophilia and can be life threatening
vWD diagnosis
- Low plasma vWF
- Reduced Factor VIII activity
- Reduced vWF antigen levels
- Prolonged bleeding time
- PLT, PT, and aPTT are NL in vWD
vWD Tx
- DDAVP: Synthetic vasopressing; increases vWF and factor VIII
- If DDAVP fails: FFP, Cryoprecipitate, Concentrated factor VIII, fibrinogen, or fibrinectin; Subtype III: Concentrated factor VIII/vWF are available
Idiopathi Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Low PLT count that is not r/t bone marrow suppression
- Common
- Usually presents b/n 2-9yo in children and 20-50yo in adults
ITP Presentation: Children
- 2-3wk after viral illness
- Rapid drop in PLT
- Most resolves in 6mo
- Usually develops petechia and/or purpura
ITP Presentation: Adults
- May have NO prodromal illness
- Slow drop in PLT
- Tends to be chronic
ITP S/S
- Purpura
- Petechia
- Prolonged bleeding from trauma
- Epistaxis
- Gum bleeding
- Hematuria, melena
- Menorrhagia
ITP Tx (General)
- PLT count >20K without s/s: No Tx
- Symptomatic patients and those at risk for bleeding should receive immunosuppression
ITP Tx (Meds)
- Corticosteroids: Prednisone or prednisolone 1-2mg/kg/day; only 10-15% will have remission
- IVIG: If PLT <10K), continuous steroids required to maintain NL PLT
Thrombophilia
- Familial: Factor V leiden; Protein C deficiency, Protein S Deficiency; Anti-thrombin deficiency; Prothrombin 20210A mutations
- Acquired: Antiphopholipid antibody syndrome; lupus inhibitor
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and RBC Labs
- Females: 12-16g/dL; 36-46%; 4-5.2
- Males: 14-18g/dL; 41-53%; 4.5-5.9
Iron Supplementation
- Ferrous Sulfate: 300mg yields 60mg elemental Fe
- Ferrous Gluconate: 325mg yields 36mg elemental Fe
- Dose: about 150-200mg of elemental Fe qd in divided doses for 4-6mo or until serum ferritin levels exceed 50mcg/L
Reticulocyte Count
- Immature RBCs
* 0.5-25% of total RBCs
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Size of the RBC
- 80-100fL
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Uniformity of the RBC sample
- 12-15%
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
- Color of the RBC
- 31-37dL
Iron Deficient Anemia (IDA) Facts
- Most common cause of anemia
- Most common in menstruating women and older adults
- Causes: GI/menstrual blood loss; nutritional inadequacies, malabsorption, increased Fe requirements (pregnancy)
Iron Studies
- Serum Fe: Amount bound to transferrin
- 35-165
- Transferrin: Protein that binds iron for transport
- 200-380
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Extent of available sites for iron binding
- 252-479
- Iron saturation: 15-50%
- Ferritin: Total body iron stores
- 3-151
IDA: Labs
- Decreased MCV
- Low Hgb
- Decreased MCHC and MCH
- Low Ferritin and high transferrin/TIBC
- Smear: anisocytosis (variation of size of RBC) and Poikilocytosis (distortion of the shape of RBCs)
IDA: S/S
- Fatigue, decreased exercise tolerance, weakness
- Palpitations, irritability, HAs
- R/T low Fe: Paresthesias, sore tongue, spoon shaped nails (koilonychia)
- Pica; ice cravings
Folate deficiency Anemia (megaloblastic anemia)
- Malnutrition or malabsorption
- Not stored in body, can deplete in 2 wks
- Folic acid 1mg qd Po
- ** Treat until Hgb NL, ~4-6wk
- ** If underlying cause cannot be treated then lifelong supplementation
Cobalamin Deficiency (megaloblastic anemia)
- Malaborption (pernicious anemia)
- Necessary for nerve function
- Stored in liver up to 3 years
Macrocytic Anemia: Labs
- MCV >100
- Low Hgb
- Low retic count
- Low B12 or folate levels
- Consider LFTs or protein electrophoresis
Pernicious anemia
- Autoimmune
- Test for anti-intrinsic factor antibodies (+)
- Cyanacobalamin 1g IM weekly for 8wk, then monthly for life
B12 Deficient Anemia
- Nutritional deficiency
- 1-2mg qd PO for 1-2wk, then 1mg qd
Underlying causes for macrocytic anemia
- Dietary deficiencies: vegan, elderly, ETOH abuse
- Resecton of stomach or sm. intestine
- Celiac, enteritis, tapeworm
Treatment for macrocytic anemia
- aymptomatic: no Tx
- Severe anemia: transfusion
- Symptomatic: supplemental B12 or folate supplement
Anemia usually resolved in 3-4wk - Strategy determined by underlying cause
Macrocytic anemia: Pearls
- Untreated macrocytosis can lead to neurologic damage; suspect in any new onset cases of neurologic symptoms and r/o early
- Patients can be taught to take IM injections at home for B12
- B12 injections in the absence of deficiency are NOT indicated to treat low energy
- Recognize and treat ETOH abuse
Dietary Sources of Folate
- Fortified cereals
- Beef liver
- Black-eyed peas; great northern beans; baked beans
- Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, Romaine lettuce
- Enriched rice, pastas
- Fortified juices
Normocytic/Normochromic Anemia: Causes
- Bleeding
- SCD
- Leukemia
- Anemia of chronic disease
Anemia 2/t bleeding
- admit
- Transfusion
Anemia 2/t lymphoma/leukemia
- Pancytopenia
- Auer rods
- Increased blast cells
- Lymphadenopathy
- Consult to Heme/Onc
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and RBC Labs
- Females: 12-16g/dL; 36-46%; 4-5.2
- Males: 14-18g/dL; 41-53%; 4.5-5.9
Iron Supplementation
- Ferrous Sulfate: 300mg yields 60mg elemental Fe
- Ferrous Gluconate: 325mg yields 36mg elemental Fe
- Dose: about 150-200mg of elemental Fe qd in divided doses for 4-6mo or until serum ferritin levels exceed 50mcg/L
Reticulocyte Count
- Immature RBCs
* 0.5-25% of total RBCs
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
- Size of the RBC
- 80-100fL
Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Uniformity of the RBC sample
- 12-15%
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC)
- Color of the RBC
- 31-37dL
Iron Deficient Anemia (IDA) Facts
- Most common cause of anemia
- Most common in menstruating women and older adults
- Causes: GI/menstrual blood loss; nutritional inadequacies, malabsorption, increased Fe requirements (pregnancy)
Iron Studies
- Serum Fe: Amount bound to transferrin
- 35-165
- Transferrin: Protein that binds iron for transport
- 200-380
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Extent of available sites for iron binding
- 252-479
- Iron saturation: 15-50%
- Ferritin: Total body iron stores
- 3-151
IDA: Labs
- Decreased MCV
- Low Hgb
- Decreased MCHC and MCH
- Low Ferritin and high transferrin/TIBC
- Smear: anisocytosis (variation of size of RBC) and Poikilocytosis (distortion of the shape of RBCs)
IDA: S/S
- Fatigue, decreased exercise tolerance, weakness
- Palpitations, irritability, HAs
- R/T low Fe: Paresthesias, sore tongue, spoon shaped nails (koilonychia)
- Pica; ice cravings
Folate deficiency Anemia (megaloblastic anemia)
- Malnutrition or malabsorption
- Not stored in body, can deplete in 2 wks
- Folic acid 1mg qd Po
- ** Treat until Hgb NL, ~4-6wk
- ** If underlying cause cannot be treated then lifelong supplementation
Cobalamin Deficiency (megaloblastic anemia)
- Malaborption (pernicious anemia)
- Necessary for nerve function
- Stored in liver up to 3 years
Macrocytic Anemia: Labs
- MCV >100
- Low Hgb
- Low retic count
- Low B12 or folate levels
- Consider LFTs or protein electrophoresis
Pernicious anemia
- Autoimmune
- Test for anti-intrinsic factor antibodies (+)
- Cyanacobalamin 1g IM weekly for 8wk, then monthly for life
B12 Deficient Anemia
- Nutritional deficiency
- 1-2mg qd PO for 1-2wk, then 1mg qd
Underlying causes for macrocytic anemia
- Dietary deficiencies: vegan, elderly, ETOH abuse
- Resecton of stomach or sm. intestine
- Celiac, enteritis, tapeworm
Treatment for macrocytic anemia
- aymptomatic: no Tx
- Severe anemia: transfusion
- Symptomatic: supplemental B12 or folate supplement
Anemia usually resolved in 3-4wk - Strategy determined by underlying cause
Macrocytic anemia: Pearls
- Untreated macrocytosis can lead to neurologic damage; suspect in any new onset cases of neurologic symptoms and r/o early
- Patients can be taught to take IM injections at home for B12
- B12 injections in the absence of deficiency are NOT indicated to treat low energy
- Recognize and treat ETOH abuse
Dietary Sources of Folate
- Fortified cereals
- Beef liver
- Black-eyed peas; great northern beans; baked beans
- Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, Romaine lettuce
- Enriched rice, pastas
- Fortified juices
Normocytic/Normochromic Anemia: Causes
- Bleeding
- SCD
- Leukemia
- Anemia of chronic disease
Anemia 2/t bleeding
- admit
- Transfusion
Anemia 2/t lymphoma/leukemia
- Pancytopenia
- Auer rods
- Increased blast cells
- Lymphadenopathy
- Consult to Heme/Onc