Myeloproliferative Disorders Flashcards
What does myeloproliferative mean?
Rare disorders of the bone marrow that causes an increase in the number of blood cells
What does myelo mean?
Bone marrow
What does proliferative mean?
Grow or reproduce quickly
Why are there different types of myeloproliferative disorders?
Due to different types of blood cells
What is polycythemia vera-?
Increased concentration of red blood cells in blood
What is apparent polycythemia vera-?
Normal red cell count but lowered plasma, making blood “thicker”. Mainly caused by lifestyle- overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol and certain medicines including diuretics – more concentrated
What is relative polycythemia vera-?
Similar to apparent but caused by dehydration
What is absolute polycythemia vera-?
over production of red cells-
What percentage of polycythemia vera- cases have a genetic link to the JAK2 gene?
Approx 95% of cases have a genetic link to JAK2 gene- leading to uncontrolled reproduction of RBC. JAK2 fault develops during life- not passed on to offspring > producing more = not as good quality of cell
Symptoms of polycythemia vera-?
Fatigue
Trouble breathing
Itchy skin/ reddening of skin
Head ache and vision problems
High blood pressure
Blockage of blood vessels/ blood clots- heart attack/strokes/ DVT
Bleeding gums, peptic ulcers
Splenomegaly (75% off patients at presentation) – enlarged spleen
Risk factors of polycythemia vera-?
More common in males
Smoking
Hypoxia
CO exposure)
Approx. 2/100,00 diagnoses each year- rare
Ave age at diagnosis 60+, uncommon in under 40
Exposure to radiation
Diagnosis of polycythemia vera-?
FBC
Bone marrow biopsy
Major criteria- Hb of more than 18.5g/dl men or 16.5g/dl women
Treatment of polycythemia vera-?
Currently not curable
Management is based on symptom control:
Watch and wait if asymptomatic
Lifestyle changes
Lowering of blood count- venesection, usually ½ litre of blood taken once a week initially, then on individual need
Low dose aspirin
Control of cardio vascular risk factors
Chemotherapy- Hydroxycarbamine, mild chemo drug used to prevent RBC production ( possible increased risk of AML with long term use)
Interferon- used if associated high platelet count.
What is essential thrombocythaemia?
Overproduction of platelets
Essential thrombocythaemia genetic cause associated with?
JAK2 gene (60% of cases)
CALR gene (30% of cases)
MPL gene (5% of cases)
JAK2 and MPL gene fault affect what?
Response of bone marrow to growth factors causing over production
CALR gene is responsible for?
Producing calreticulin protein, the function of which is thought to involve folding of new proteins and calcium regulation, although exact function is not known.
Signs and symptoms of essential thrombocythaemia?
Heart attack/stroke
Headaches, dizziness, migraines, seizures
Burning/ throbbing pain in hands and feet
Bruising/ bleeding
Pain and redness in hands/feet/face, Erythromelalgia
GI bleeding/ blood in urine
Thrombosis- Stroke/heart attack/blurred vision or blindness
Splenomegaly (40-50% at presentation)
Risk factors of essential thrombocythaemia?
60 years +, although 20% of those diagnosed under 40 years, rare in children.
Possible environmental link- exposure to chemicals or electrical wiring
What is primary myelofibrosis (myeloscelerosis)?
Over production of collagen or fibrous tissue in the bone marrow reducing its ability to produce blood cells
Primary myelofibrosis (myeloscelerosis) risk factors
Similar male: female ratio
Ages 60-70+
Environment- exposure to petrochemicals, benzene and toluene; radiation exposure
Previous diagnosis of a myeloproliferative neoplasm
Hodgkins histology
Classical, nodular
Non-hodgkins histology
Most common are follicular and Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (Both types of B-Cell lymphoma) - DLBCL
Low or high grade
Hodgkins characterised by?
Contiguous spread
Adjacent nodal groups
Non-Hodgkins characterised by?
Non-contiguous spread
Random lymph node involvement
Who demonstrated multinucleate giant cells?
Sternberg (1898) and Reed (1902)
What is CD15?
75-85% of CHD cases
A carbohydrate used in diagnosis of HL
Present on; neutrophils, eosinophils and some monocytes
Not present on basophils or lymphocytes
Present on Reed-Sternberg cells
Mediates phagocytosis and chemotaxis
What is CD30?
seen in almost all CHD cases
lymphocyte activation antigen