Intro to Haematology Flashcards

1
Q

What is covered by the clinical speciality of heamtology?

A

1 - Investigation of blood and bone marrow

2 - Management of disorders of blood and bone marrow

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2
Q

What are the 3 major constituents of blood?

A

1 - Plasma

2 - Buffy coat

3 - Red blood cells

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3
Q

What are the components of plasma?

A

1 - Clotting/coagulation factors

2 - Albumin

3 - Antibodies

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4
Q

What are the components of the buffy coat?

A

1 - Platelets

2 - White cells or Leucocytes

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5
Q

What are the 3 main functions of blood?

A

1 - Transport

2 - Maintenance of vascular integrity

3 - Protection against pathogens

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6
Q

What does blood transport?

A

1 - Gases (O2, CO2)

2 - Nutrients

3 - Waste

4 - Messages

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7
Q

What component of blood carries gases?

A

Red cells

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8
Q

What component of blood carries the nutrients, waste and messages?

A

Plasma

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9
Q

In what ways does blood maintain vascular integrity?

A

1 - Prevention of leaks

2 - Prevention of blocakges

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10
Q

Which components of blood are responsible for preventing leaks?

A

1 - Platelets

2 - Clotting factors

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11
Q

Which component of blood is responsible for preventing blockages?

A

1 - Anticoagulants

2 - Fibrinolytics

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12
Q

In what ways does blood provide protection from pathogens?

A

1 - Phagocytosis and killing

2 - Antigen recognition and antibody formation

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13
Q

Which components of blood are responsible for phagocytosis and killing?

A

Macrophages

Neutrophils

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14
Q

Which components of blood are responsible for anitgen recognition and antibody formation?

A

Lymphocytes

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15
Q

What are the main categories of haematological abnormalities?

A

1 - High levels of blood

2 - Low levels of blood

3 - Altered function

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16
Q

What is haematopoiesis?

A

The differentiation of stem cells into red blood cells and lymphoid cells

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17
Q

What are erythrocytes?

A

Red blood cells (erythros = red)

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18
Q

What are the myeloid cells?

A

Erythrocytes

Platelets

Neutrophils

Monocytes

Basophils

Eosinophils

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19
Q

What are the lymphoid cells?

A

Natural Killer cells

T and B cells

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20
Q

What is meant by totipotency?

A

The ability of a single cell to divide and produce all of the differntiated cells of an organism

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21
Q

Can stem cells self-renew?

A

Yes

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22
Q

What type of marrow do stem cells contain?

A

Marrow niche - CXCR4

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23
Q

What are the processes involved in stem cell differentiation?

A

Binary Fission

Flux

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24
Q

What regulates the process of flux?

A

Hormones

Growth factors

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25
Q

Where is bone marrow found in children?

A

In most bones

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26
Q

Where is bone marrow found in the elderly?

A

Axial bones

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27
Q

What does bone marrow look like?

A

Stroma and sinusoids

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28
Q

What are the stages in Erythroid differentiation?

A

1) Erythroblast
2) Reticulocyte
3) Erythrocyte

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29
Q

What is erythropoietin?

A

Glycoprotein cytokine

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30
Q

What does erythropoietin do?

A

Stimulates the production of RBC’s in bone marrow

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31
Q

Where is erythropoietin made?

A

Kidney

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32
Q

In response to what conditions is erythropoietin made?

A

Hypoxia

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33
Q

Why is the reticulocyte count useful?

A

It can be used as a measure of red cell production

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34
Q

What is polycythaemia?

A

An abnormally high concentration of haemoglobin in the blood

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35
Q

What are the causes of polycythaemia?

A

Reduction in plasma volume

Increased in number of red blood cells

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36
Q

What is the general consequence of anaemia?

A

Poor gas transfer

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37
Q

What are the specific problems caused by anaemia?

A

Dyspnoea

Fatigue

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38
Q

What are the general causes of anaemia?

A

1 - Decreased production

2 - Increased loss

39
Q

In general, what is anaemia?

A

Decrease in amount of RBC’s or Haemaglobin

40
Q

What can be the reason for anaemia caused by deficiency in haematinics?

A
  • Iron
  • Folate
  • Vitamin B12
41
Q

What is meant by the term ‘haematinics’?

A

The vitamins and minerals required for the proper creation of RBC’s

42
Q

What are the congential causes of anaemia?

A

Thalassaemias

43
Q

What is Thalassaemias?

A

Genetic problem resulting in production of not enough haemaglobin

44
Q

What can be the reasons for anaemia resulting from ‘increased loss’ of blood?

A

Bleeding

Haemolysis

45
Q

What is haemolysis?

A

The break down of RBC’s

46
Q

What are some common diseases of RBC’s?

A

Microcytes

Macrocytes

Sickle cell

47
Q

What are microcytes and with what condition are they associated?

A

Very small RBC’s associated with anaemia (e.g. iron deficiency)

48
Q

What are macrocytes and with what condition are they associated?

A

Large RBC’s associated Folate deficiency

49
Q

What are Burr cells and with what condition are they associated?

A

RBC with spiky outer membrane associated with Renal failure

50
Q

What are schistocytes and with what condition are they associated?

A

Fragments of RBC’s associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome

51
Q

What are sickle cells and with what condition are they associated?

A

They have a sickle shape, have problems carrying haemoglobin and are associated with sickle-cell disease

52
Q

What is the function of platelets?

A

To ‘clump’ together during bleeding in order to form a clot

53
Q

Which hormone is responsible for the production of platelets?

A

Thrombopoietin

54
Q

Where is thrombopoietin produced?

A

Liver

55
Q

What is the lifespan of a platelet?

A

7 days

56
Q

In what diseases are problems with platelets a feature?

A

Thrombocytosis (too many platelets)

Thrombocytopenia (not enough platelets)

57
Q

What medication can affect the functioning of platelets?

A

Aspirin (fever, pain or inflammation medication)

Clopidogrel (antiplatelet medication)

58
Q

What is the function of neutrophils?

A

To ingest and destroy pathogens

Especially bacteria and fungi

59
Q

What are the different white cell types?

A

Neutrophil

Eosinophil

Basophil

Monocytes

Lymphocytes

60
Q

From which cells are macrophages derived?

A

Monocytes

61
Q

How do neutrophils compare to macrophages?

A

Neutrophils - granulocytes which work only in the circulation

Macrophages - agranulocytes which work within tissue

62
Q

How long do neutrophils take to respond to them being required?

A

A few hours

63
Q

What are the steps of differentiation of neutrophils?

A

1 - Blast

2 - Promyelocyte

3 - Myelocyte

4 - Metamyelocyte

5 - Neutrophil

64
Q

What hormone stimulates bone marrow to produce neutrophils?

A

Granulocyte - colon stimulating factor (G-CSF)

65
Q

What do neutrophils mostly fight against?

A

Infection

Inflammation

66
Q

In what conditions can G-CSF be used therapeutically?

A

Neutropenia (not enough neutrophils)

67
Q

What can cause neutropenia by decreased production of neutrophils?

A

1 - Drugs

2 - Marrow failure

68
Q

What can cause neutropenia by increased consumption of neutrophils?

A

1 - Sepsis

2 - Autoimmune

69
Q

What is the function of monocytes?

A

To ingest and destroy pathogens

70
Q

What is the function of eosinophils?

A

Fight off:

1 - Parasites

2 - Allergies

71
Q

What is the function of lymphocytes?

A

Cells of the immune system

72
Q

What is lymphocytosis and with what conditions is it associated?

A

An increased number of lymphocytes

Associated with:

  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Pertussis
73
Q

What is lymphopenia and with what conditions is it associated?

A

Not enough lymphocytes:

  • Usually post-viral
  • Lymphoma
74
Q

What are the subtypes of lymphocytes?

A

B cells

T cells

NK cells

75
Q

What is the function of B cells?

A

Make antibodies

76
Q

What is the function of T cells?

A

Helpers - Help other WBC’s with immunity

Cytotoxic - Destroy virus infected cells

Regulatory - Maintain immunity

77
Q

Where are B cells produced?

A

Bone marrow

78
Q

Where are T cells produced?

A

Thymus

79
Q

What antigen is responsible for regulating the immune system?

A

Human Leukocyte Antigen

80
Q

How does Human leukocyte antigen work?

A

It identifies whether cells are infected or not - if they are infected then an immune response is triggered

81
Q

What blood disorders are associated with disease of the liver?

A

Anaemia

Deficient clotting factors

82
Q

What blood disorders are associated with kidney disease?

A

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Anaemia

83
Q

What blood disorder is associated with the GI system?

A

Anaemia

84
Q

What blood disorder is associasted with the respiratory system?

A

Polycythaemia

85
Q

What is the most common inherited bleeding disorder?

A

Von Willebrand disease

86
Q

What is the most common congenital coagulation factor deficiency?

A

Haemophilia A

87
Q

What are the normal haemoglobin values for a male < 70 y.o.?

A

135-170

88
Q

What are the normal haemoglobin values for a female < 70 y.o.?

A

120-160

89
Q

What is the normal range for platelet count?

A

150-400 10^9/L

90
Q

What is the normal range for white blood cells on a full blood count?

A

4-10 10^9/L

91
Q

What are the diagnostic tools used in blood disorders?

A

1 - Full blood count

2 - Clotting times

3 - Check Iron, B12 and Folate levels

4 - Bone marrow aspirate

5 - Lymph node biopsy

6 - Imaging

92
Q

What are the main categories of treatment for blood disorders?

A

1) Replacement
2) Transplantation
3) Drugs

93
Q

What are the major causes of splenomegaly?

A

1 - Infectious (e.g. Epstein-Barr virus, TB)

2 - Haematological Malignancy (e.g. leukemias)

3 - Portal hypertension

4 - Haemolytic disorders (e.g. spherocytosis)

5 - Connective tissue disorders (e.g. SLE)