intro to haematology

Question 1

what makes up the plasma ?

Answer 1

clotting factors
albumin
antibodies

Question 2

what makes up the Buffy coat ?

Answer 2

platelets

white cells

Question 3

what are the functions of blood ?

Answer 3

transport - gas, nutrients, waste, messages
maintenance of vascular integrity - prevent leaks and blockage
protection from pathogens - Ab, phagocytosis

Question 4

what are the myeloid cells ?

Answer 4

erythrocytes
platelets (megakaryocyte)
neutrophils
monocytes
basophils
eosinophils

Question 5

what are the stages of red cell differentiation ?

Answer 5

erythroblast - reticulocyte - erythrocyte

erythropoietin produces more, made in kidneys in response to hypoxia
reticulocyte count is a measure of red cell production

Question 6

what are the consequences of anaemia ?

Answer 6

poor gas transfer
dyspnoea
fatigue

Question 7

what causes decreased production of RBCs ?

Answer 7

deficiency of iron, folate, B12

congenital - thalassaemia

Question 8

what causes increased loss of RBC ?

Answer 8

bleeding

haemolysis

Question 9

what does microcytic, hypo chromic red cells indicate ?

Answer 9

iron deficiency

Question 10

what does microcytic red cells indicate ?

Answer 10

folate deficiency

Question 11

what do Burr cells indicate ?

Answer 11

renal failure

Question 12

how are platelets produced ?

Answer 12

produced in liver
regulated by thrombopoietin and platelet mass feedback
agonists romiplostim, eltrombopag used therapeutically

lifespan 7 days

Question 13

when do you see thrombocytosis ?

Answer 13

myeloid malignancies

reactive - in response to another disease

Question 14

when do you see thrombocytopenia ?

Answer 14

marrow failure

immune destruction

Question 15

when is platelet function altered ?

Answer 15

drugs
aspirin
clopidogrel
abciximab

Question 16

what are the stages of neutrophil differentiation ?

Answer 16

1. blast (acute myeloid leukaemia)
2. promyelocyte
3. myelocyte
4. metamyelocyte
5. neutrophil

regulated by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)

Question 17

when do you see neutrophilia ?

Answer 17

infection
inflammation
G-CSF used therapeutically

Question 18

when do you seen neutropenia ?

Answer 18

decreased production - drugs, marrow failure
increased consumption - sepsis, autoimmune
altered function - chronic granulomatous disease

Question 19

what is a monocyte ?

Answer 19

a macrophage or dendritic cell that is not in the tissue

ingests pathogens

Question 20

when do you see lymphocytosis ?

Answer 20

infectious mononucleosis

pertussis

Question 21

when do you see lymphopenia ?

Answer 21

post-viral

lymphoma

Question 22

what are the different Abs ?

Answer 22

IgM - multimeric generated early on
IgG - most common secodary response
IgA - in mucosa
IgE - parasites and allergy
IgD - pish

Question 23

what makes up a receptor chain gene ?

Answer 23

V
D
J
C-region

Question 24

what are the different human leucocyte antigens (HLA) ?

Answer 24

class 1 - displays internal antigens on all nucleated cells
class 2 - displays antigens eaten by professional antigen presenting cells

Question 25

what is Felty syndrome ?

Answer 25

super RA
triad;
RA
splenomegaly
neutropenia

Question 26

what are the normal ranges for Hb, platelets, WBCs ?

Answer 26

Hb men - 135-170
Hb women - 120-160
platelets 150-400
WBC 4-10