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Haematology > Intro to Haematology > Flashcards

Intro to Haematology Flashcards

1
Q

Name the components and products of blood

A
  • Plasma: clotting/coagulation factors, albumin and antibodies
  • Buffy coat: platelets and WBCs
  • RBCs
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2
Q

What are the functions of blood?

A
  • Transport: gases (in RBCs), nutrients, waste and messages (in plasma)
  • Prevention of leaks (platelets and clotting factors
  • Prevention of blockages: anticoagulants and fibrinolytics
  • Protection from pathogens
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3
Q

Describe the 3 main pathogenesis of haematological abnormalities

A
  • High levels: increased rate of production and decreased rate of loss
  • Low levels: decreased rate of production and increased rate of loss
  • Altered function
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4
Q

Describe the process of erythroid differentiation

A
  • Erythroblast > reticulocyte > erythrocyte

- Erythropoietin: made in the kidney in response to hypoxia

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5
Q

What does a reticulocyte count measure?

A

Red cell production

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6
Q

What is polycythaemia?

A

Too many red blood cells

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7
Q

What are the potential consequences of anaemia?

A
  • Poor gas transfer
  • Dyspnoea
  • Fatigue
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8
Q

What is the function of platelets and how are they produced?

A
  • Haemostasis and immune response
  • Production is regulated by thrombopoietin
  • Produced in the liver
  • Regulated by platelet mass feedback
  • Agonists (romiplostim, eltrombopag) are used therapeutically
  • Lifespan is 7 days
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9
Q

How can platelet function go wrong?

A
  • Thrombocytosis - too many platelets produced
  • Thrombocytopenia - too little platelets
  • Altered function: antiplatelets
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10
Q

What are the functions of neutrophils?

A
  • To ingest and destroy pathogens, especially bacteria and fungi
  • Interleukins and colony stimulating factors
  • Regulation by immune responses (macrophages, IL-17)
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11
Q

Name the five stages of neutrophil differentiation

A

1) Blast (acute myeloid leukaemia) neutrophil
2) Promyelocyte
3) Myelocyte
4) Metamyelocyte
5) Neutrophils

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12
Q

What are the causes of neutrophilia?

A
  • Regulated by G-CSF
  • Infection
  • Inflammation
  • Therapeutic use of G-CSF for neutropenia and mobilisation of stem cells
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13
Q

What are the causes of neutropenia?

A
  • Decreased production: drugs and marrow failure
  • Increased consumption: sepsis and autoimmune
  • Altered function e.g. chronic granulomatous disease
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14
Q

What are the functions of monocytes?

A
  • To ingest and destroy pathogens (esp. bacteria and fungi)

- Subset migrates into tissues and become macrophages or dendritic cells

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15
Q

What role do eosinophils have?

A

Plays a role in the immune response to parasites and in allergy

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16
Q

What are the causes of lymphocytosis?

A
  • Infective mononucleosis

- Pertussis

17
Q

What are the causes of lymphopenia?

A
  • Usually post viral

- Lymphoma

18
Q

What are the three types of lymphocytes?

A
  • B cells
  • T cells
  • NK cells
19
Q

Where are lymphocytes produced and where do they mature?

A
  • Produced in the bone marrow
  • B cells mature in the bone marrow
  • T cells mature in the thymus
20
Q

Describe the features of a T cell receptor

A
  • Alpha chain (variable region)

- Beta chain (constant region)

21
Q

Describe the features of a B cell receptor

A
  • Light chain (variable region)

- Heavy chain (constant region)

22
Q

Describe the different types of HLA

A
  • Class I: displays internal antigens on all nucleated cells

- Class II: displays antigens eaten by professional antigen presenting cells

23
Q

What are the normal interval ranges for haemaglobin?

A
  • Male: 135-170 g/L

- Female: 120-160 g/L

24
Q

What is the normal interval range for platelets?

A

150-400 10^9/L

25
Q

What is the normal interval range for WBCs?

A

4-10 10^9/L

26
Q

Which diagnostic tools can be used in haematology?

A
  • FBC
  • Clotting times (clotting factors and platelets)
  • Platelet and leukocyte function tests
  • Chemical assays: iron (ferritin), B12 and folate
  • Marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy
  • Lymph node biopsy
  • Imaging
27
Q

Which treatments are available in haematology?

A
  • Replacement: blood, haematinics, coagulation factors and plasma exchange
  • Transplantation
  • Drugs: cytotoxics, monoclonal antibodies, inhibitors of cellular proliferation, immunosuppresants, inhibitors of coagulation and inhibitors of fibrinolysis

Haematology (11 decks)

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