Heme Flashcards
Haptoglobin
Protein that mops up free Hb allowing its clearance in the spleen
In hemolytic anemia, haptoglobin decreases b/c it is all consumed
Thalassemia genetic inheritance
Autosomal recessive
Hemochromatosis clinical features
ABCDH Arthralgia Bronze skin Cardiomyopathy, liver cirrhosis Diabetes Hypogonadism (anterior pituitary damage)
Thalassemia
Defects in production of alpha (SEA and Africa) or beta (Mediterranean) chains of Hb resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis and hemolysis in spleen or BM
beta-Thalassemia peripheral blood smear
Microcytic
Teardrop
Target
Hypochromatic
Beta-thal treatment
Lifelong regular monthly transfusions to suppress endogenous erythropoiesis
Iron chelation (deferoxamine) to prevent iron overload in organs and formation of free radicals
Folic acid supplementation
Consider allogenieic bone marrow transplant or cord blood transplant as cure
Splenectomy
Alpha-thal
4 alpha globin genes
All 4 = Hb Barts, typically hydrops fetalis, incompatible with life
3/4 = HbH, presents in adulthood, decreased MCV, decreased Hb, splenomeg
1 or 2/4 = no tx required
Alpha-thal peripheral blood smear
Screen for HbH inclusion bodies with supravital stai
Sickle cell genetic inheritance
Autosomal recessive due to mutant beta globin gene (Glu –> Val substitution)
Sickle cell trait
Pt asymptomatic except during extreme hypoxia or infection
Increased risk of renal medullary carcinoma
Functional asplenism, increased susceptibility to encapsulated organisms
S. pneumoniae
N. meningitidis
H. influenza
Salmonella
Sickle cell treatment
Folic acid
Hydroxyurea to enhance production of HbF
Tx of vaso-occlusive crisis (O2, hydration, correct acidosis, analgesics)
Transfuse if Hb <50-60h/L
Sickle cell prevention
Vaccination (pneumococcus, meningococcus, H. influenza) Prophylactic penicillin (3mo-5yo)
Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia
IgG
Idiopathic
Secondary to lymphoproliferative d/o (ie. CLL)
Secondary to AI disease (ie. SLE)
Drug-induced
Spherocytes on blood film
Tx: corticosteroids, immunosuppression, splenectomy, folic acid, rituximab (2nd line to steroids)
Cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia
IgM
Idiopathic
Secondary to infection (ie. EBV)
Secondary to lymphoproliferative d/o (ie. CLL)
Agglutination of blood film
Tx: warm patient, rituximab regimens (1st line), plasma exchange (2nd line for high IgM levels), folic acid
Most common type of hereditary hemolytic anemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
G6PD
Defiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase –> RBC sensitivity due to oxidative stress
X-linked recessive
Episodic hemolysis precipitated by oxidative stress, drugs, infection, fava beans
May present in neonates with prolonged jaundice
G6PD blood smear
Heinz bodies
Bite cells as they pass through spleen
G6PD tx
Folic acid
Stop offending drugs and avoid triggers
Transfusion in severe cases
Thrombocytopenia
Plt < 150 000/uL
Plt < 50 000
increased risk of procedural and surgical bleeding (<100,000 for neurosurgeries)
Plt < 20 000
increased risk of severe bleeding with fever and/or coagulopathy
Plt < 10 000
Increased risk of spontaneous bleeding (ie. ICH)
Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia
Plt >100 x 10^6, direct heparin mediated plt aggregation (non-immune)
Self limited
Continue with heparin therapy
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
immune-mediated reaction following tx with heparin (typically within 5-10d) leading to thrombocytopenia and subsequent coag activation
Stop heparin, can never have again
4T score for heparin
Thrombocytopenia
Timing of plt count fall
Thrombosis or other sequelae
Other causes for thrombocytopenia
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura pathophysiology
ADAMTS-13 protease activity decreased –> vWF not cleaved –> large multimer on endothelial surface –> plt adhere and aggregate –> diffuse small vessel clotting = MAHA
Pentad of TTP
- Thrombocytopenia*
- MAHA*
- Renal failure
- Fever
- Mental status change
- = only ones required for dx
TTP treatment
PLEX (plasma exchange) +/- steroids
Improvement in neurological signs is initial indicator of response
Avoid platelet transfusion unless life-threatening bleed (“peeing into the ocean”)
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
HUS
Predominantly in children/elderly 90% secondary to Shiga toxin Similar to TTP (severe thrombocytopenia, MAHA, AKI, blood diarrhea) 3 criteria: - Hemolytic anemia - AKI - Thrombocytopenia
HUS tx
Supportive (fluids, RBC transfusion)
Some evidence for PLEX
Most common inherited bleeding disorder
von Willebrand disease
vWD inheritance
Autosomal dominent
vWF function
- Platelet aggregation
2. Chaperone for Factor VIII
vWD treatment
Desmopressin (DDAVP) - causes release of vWF and Factor VIII from endothelial cells
TXA (stabilize clot formation)
Hemophilia genetic inheritance
X-linked recessive
Hemophilia A
Factor VIII deficiency