Hematology Flashcards
Name the condition:
i. ) Low serum iron
ii. ) High serum ferritin
Chronic inflammation or chronic disease
If hemoglobin is low, then this is Anemia of Chronic Disease.
What are the 4 main causes of Microcytic Anemia?
- ) Iron deficiency anemia
- ) Thalassemia
- ) Sideroblastic anemia (reduced protoporphyrin production)
- ) Lead Poisoning
Anemia is defined as hemoglobin < 12 g/dL
Microcytosis (small RBC size) is defined as an MCV < 80 fl
What is the mainstay treatment in polycythemia vera?
phlebtomy
When do you find smudge cells on a blood smear?
CLL
What is Secondary Polycythemia?
A compensatory increase in RBCs resulting from chronic hypoxemia (smoking, COPD, altitude sickness, Cushing’s, Pheochromocytoma)
Under what circumstance does a patient have normocytic, normochromic anemia with a high reticulocyte count?
- ) Hemolytic Anemia
- ) Acute Blood Loss
i. ) Anemia is defined as hemoglobin concentration < 12g/dL
ii. ) Normocytosis (normal RBC size) is defined as MCV 80-100 fl
iii. ) Reticulocytes are immature RBCs produced by bone marrow (in response to acutely low RBCs)
What can cause metabolic alkalosis?
- ) Vomiting or Stomach Pumping (causes the loss of HCl)
- ) Intake of excess alkaline-promoting products (antacids)
- ) Constipation (b/c excessive bicarbonate is reabsorbed)
Eradication of H.pylori is recommended in what clotting disorder?
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Eradication improves the platelet count in 33% of adults and restores normal platelet levels in 20%
What is Fibrinogen?
A complex polypeptide (synthesized in the liver) that converts to fibrin, after thrombin’s enzymatic action
Fibrin then combines with platelets to clot blood
What coagulation study is abnormal in von Willebrand’s Disease?
Longer PTT and bleeding time
vWF is part of the intrinsic clotting cascade therefore PTT will be affected but PT/INR will not be affected
- ) What is spherocytosis?
- ) What are the symptoms of Spherocytosis?
- ) What is the conventional treatment of Sphercytosis?
1.) Autosomal dominant condition in which RBCs are abnormally spherical.
- ) Symptoms.
i. ) Spherical shape of RBC
ii. ) Hemolytic anemia with jaundice
iii. ) Splenomegally
iv. ) Hepatomegally
v. ) Cholelithiasis (from increase in bilirubin)
vi. ) Possibly polydactylism
3.) Symptoms usually resolve with splenectomy
What is the formula used to determine an anion gap?
Anion Gap = (Na + K) - (Cl + HCO3)
Normal = 8-16 mmol/L (above 16 = metabolic acidosis)
Name the condition:
i. ) High TIBC
ii. ) High Transferrin
iii. ) Low Hemoglobin
Iron-deficiency Anemia
Other lab tests = low iron, low ferritin, low transferrin saturation percentage, normal MCV
What is the target INR for preventing an embolism in patients with artificial heart valves?
- 5-3.5
3. 0-4.5 (if high-risk)
In what condition will you see Heinz Bodies?
G6PD Deficiency
A lack of G6PD causes greater oxidative stress on RBCs. Oxidative stress causes the hemoglobin to precipitate. This precipitation is referred to as Heinz Bodies. The Heinz bodies are then removed by the spleen. The removal of Heinz Bodies produces Bite Cells
Describe Hematocrit
The percent of whole blood that is filled by erythrocytes
This value should be triple that of hemoglobin
- ) What lab findings indicate metabolic acidosis?
2. ) How do the lungs compensate during metabolic acidosis?
- ) Lab Findings
i. ) pH < 7.35
ii. ) Anion gap > 16 mmol/L
iii. ) Low Bicarbonate levels - ) Respiratory Compensation
i. ) Breathing Rate & Depth Increase
a. ) A faster breathing rate creates respiratory alkalosis
Why is G6PD deficiency assessed for before IV Vitamin C administration?
The high dose of Vitamin C may cause the precipitation of hemoglobin in G6PD deficient RBCs and lead to anemia
What is the principal function of chloride?
To help regulate acid-base balance and osmolarity with shifting sodium levels. Where sodium goes, so does chloride. If the patient is hyponatremic then the patient is likely hypochloremic as well, and vice versa.
Describe MCH
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin = the weight of hemoglobin per RBC
(it is calculated by = Hgb/RBC)
What tests should be run in a patient presenting with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?
- ) Serum creatinine & urea (to assess kidney function)
- ) Kidney biopsy
- ) CRP, ESR
- ) Explain the pathophysiology of anemia of chronic disease.
- ) How is a Diagnosis of anemia of chronic disease made?
- ) In response to inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6), the liver produces hepcidin which decreases ferroportin (used to release iron into blood). Therefore, it is caused by failure of stored iron to be transported into the plasma.
- ) Normochromic, normocytic, decrease in MCH, and an increase in ESR
What is the classic triad of symptoms in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura?
i. ) Purpuric rash on the buttocks & thighs (all cases)
ii. ) Arthritis (80%)
iii. ) Abdominal pain or renal dysfunction
- ) What impact on acid-base balance does bradypnea and shallow breathing have?
- ) How does the kidney compensate for the imbalance in acid-base?
1.) Acidosis, b/c carbon dioxide levels are allowed to accumulate in the blood.
2.) The kidneys retain/reabsorb more bicarbonate to buffer the acidosis.
Therefore if laboratory work was performed you would see an increased PCO2 & Increased bicarbonate
Name the condition:
Presence of Target Cells
Beta-Thalassemia
Target cells (codocytes) = RBC with bulsseye centre rather than the (normal) central pallor
The Philadelphia Chromosome is associated with what neoplastic proliferation?
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
What population group has the highest risk of G6PD deficiency?
Mediterranean ancestry
In hypoparathyroidism, what would you expect the phosphorus levels to be like?
Phosphorus will be elevated because the kidneys will reabsorb phosphate at the expense of calcium
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) serves to increase serum calcium levels. If calcium levels are low it will prompt the kidneys to reabsorb more calcium and secrete more phosphorus. If there are high levels of PTH, there will be high levels of calcium and low levels of phosphorus. If there are low PTH levels there will generally be lower calcium levels and higher phosphorus levels
What is the major difference between alpha and beta thalassemia?
- ) Alpha thalassemia is caused by gene deletion
- ) Beta thalassemia is caused by gene mutation
In globin chain formation, four alpha genes and two beta genes impact its formation. Therefore, the continuum of alpha thalassemia may have 1,2,3, or 4 gene deletions and for beta thalassemia there may be 1 or 2 gene mutations (minor and major)