MTB - Hematology Flashcards
In older patient with anemia - what level of Hb is your goal?
Above 10
CCS - what physical exam stuff do you order for suspected anemia?
General appearance, cv, chest, extremities, HEENT
Iron studies in anemia of chronic disease
High ferritin
Low TIBC
Low Fe
Normal/low Fe sat
Electrophoresis in B thalassemia
Elevated HbA2 and HbF
Hb electrophoresis in A-thalassemia
Normal
What are potential causes of sideroblastic anemia?
Alcoholic
Lead exposure
Isoniazid
Most accurate diagnostic test for sideroblastic anemia
Prussian blue stain
Treatment of sideroblastic anemia
- Remove toxin exposure
2. Pyridoxine replacement
Most accurate test for alpha thalassemia
DNA sequencing
Which anemia has increased RDW?
Iron deficiency only
Only microcytic anemia with high reticulocyte count
HbH - 3 alpha gene deletion
Anemia of chronic disease
Normal or increased amounts of iron and ferritin in storage but inability to process the iron into a usable form for Hb synthesis
EPO can be used to tx what anemia?
Anemia of chronic disease due to end stage renal disease
Three unique signs of vit B12 deficiency
Neuropathy (peripheral)
Glossitis (smooth tongue)
Diarrhea
Which drug can block vit B12 absorption?
Meteor in
Peripheral blood smear findings in megaloblastic anemia
Hypersegmented neutrophils (>4 lobes) Oval cells
What other lab tests should you get in macrocytic anemia?
Bilirubin and LDH - will be increased
Reticulocyte count - will be decreased
Your suspect vit B12 deficiency in your patient with macrocytic anemia, but their b12 level is normal - what other test can help you distinguish between vitamin B12 and folate deficiency?
Methylmalonic acid level - will be elevated in B12 def
Homocysteine is elevated in both
You found low vitamin B12 levels and elevated methylmalonic acid levels in your patient - what’s the next test to determine etiology of deficiency?
Anti-parietal cell abs or anti- intrinsic factor abs
Lab findings in hemolytic anemia
Elevated bilirubin, LDH and reticulocytes
Decreased haptoglobin
In addition to regular findings of hemolysis, intravascular hemolysis shows…
Schistocytes, helmet cells and fragmented cells on smear
Hemoglobinuria
Hemosiderin urea
A patient with sickle cell anemia presents with severe pain in the chest, back and thighs. What is your initial management?
Oxygen
IVF with normal saline
Pain meds
Patient with sickle cell crises, develops fever while on oxygen and hydration. What do you do?
Give abx: ceftriaxone, levofloxacin or moxifloxacin
Perform complete physical exam
Order blood cultures, urinalysis, reticulocyte count, CBC and CXR
In what cases would you give an exchange transfusion to a sickle cell pt
Visual disturbance
Pulmonary infarction
Priapism
Stroke
Sickle cell pt admitted for pain crisis has a drop in htc with rise in reticulocyte count over two days - what do you suspect?
Either folate deficiency or parvovirus infection
If pt is receiving replacement therapy, it is likely parvo
Dx and Tx of parvovirus in sickle cell pt
PCR for DNA of parvovirus
Tx, transfusion, IVIG
What meds do you discharge a sickle patient?
Folate replacement
Pneumococcal vaccine
Hydroxyurea - if >4 episodes per year
CF in sickle cell trait
Renal problems
- hematuria
- isostenuria (prone to dehydration)
- urinary tract infections
Causes of autoimmune hemolysis
Other autoimmune conditions:SLE, RA
CLL
MEDS: penicillin, alpha-methyl dopa, quinine, sulfa drugs
Most accurate diagnostic test in autoimmune hemolysis
Coombs test
Best initial therapy in autoimmune hemolysis
Steroids (prednisone)
If recurrent - splenectomy
Only IgG abs respond to these treatments
If a case describes severe hemolysis that does not respond to prednisone or repeated transfusions - what can you do?
Give IVIG
Features of cold induced hemolysis
Mycoplasma or EBV in history
Coombs negative
Complement positive
No response to steroids, transfusion or IVIG
Tx. Cold hemolysis
Rituximab
Which anemia is X-linked?
G6PD Deficiency
Causes of acute oxidant stress in g6pd deficiency
Infection
Sulfa drug, primaquine, dapsone
Fava beans
Best initial test in g6pd deficiency
Heinz body test - Heinz bodies and bite cells on smear
Most accurate test for G6PD deficiency
G6pd level - wait two weeks after acute episode to measure level (will be normal right after episode )
Tx. G6PD deficiency
No tx - avoid oxidant stress
CF in hereditary spherocytosis
Recurrent episodes of hemolysis
Splenomegaly
Bilirubin gallstones
Elevated MCHC
Causes of HUS / TTP
E.coli O157:H7
Ticlopidine
HUS triad
Hemolysis
Renal failure
Thrombocytopenia
TTP
Hemolysis Renal failure Thrombocytopenia Fever Neurological changes
Tx. HUS / TTP
Plasmapheresis
Patient is presenting with pancytopenia and recurrent episodes if dark urine - dx? Test?
Dx: PNH
Test - c55 and c59 ab level
Tx. PNH
Steroids
If transfusion dep. try eculizumab
What drugs can cause methemoglobinemia?
Nitroglycerin Amyl nitrate Nitroprusside Dapsone Anesthetics ending in a sine
Tx. Methemoglobinemia
Methylene blue
Acute symptoms of hemolysis while transfusion is occuring
ABO incompatibility
Acute SOB shortly after transfusion that goes away on its own
Transfusion assoc. Acute lung injury
- donor abs against WBCs
- no tx