Oncology/Haematology Flashcards
Poor prognostic signs in ALL
WCC>50
<2 and >9 years age
Boys do less well than girls
Chromosomal abnormalities eg t(4:11) and t(9:22)
Hypodiploidy <44
CNS disease
Poor response to induction chemo with minimal residual disease
Ifosfamide side effects
Metabolic acidosis
Wilm’s tumour is associated with which conditions?
- WAGR syndrome 30%, WT1 deletion- Wilms tumour; aniridia; genitourinary abnormalities; retardation
- Denys-Drash syndrome 90%, WT1 missense mutation - pseudohermaphroditism; mesangial renal sclerosis, Wilms tumour.
- Fanconi Anaemia (20%)
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome 5%, 11p15
Hemihypertrophy
Cryptorchidism
Hypospadias
Risk factors for development of sarcoma?
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53 mutation)
- NF1
- Hereditary retinoblastoma (500x risk osteosarcoma)
- Prior treatment with radio/chemotherapy (inc osteosarcoma risk)
Side effects of methotrexate?
Mucositis
Hepatitis
Decr renal function
Neurocognitive effects
Side effects of cisplatin?
Ototoxicity (can use sodium thiosulfate to decrease hearing loss risk)
Nephrotoxicity
Delayed nausea
Side effects of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide?
Haemorrhagic cystitis
Leukaemia/lymphoma
Infertility
Lung fibrosis
Side effects of vincristine?
Peripheral neuropathy Abdominal pain, constipation Jaw and bone pain Ptosis Extravasation injury
Side effects of anthracyclines/doxorubicin?
AML
Cardiomyopathy
Radiation-recall dermatitis
Necrosis on extravasation
Side effects of etoposide?
Leukaemia (AML)
Side effects of L-asparaginase?
Hyperglycaemia
Pancreatitis
Coagulopathy
Encephalopathy
Side effects of bleomycin?
Pulmonary fibrosis
Chemotherapy drugs causing an increased risk of secondary malignancy?
- Cyclophosphamide (alkalising agent)
- Etoposide (topoisomerase II inhibitor)
- Doxorubicin and danorubicin (anthracyclines, topoisomerase II inhibitors)
Side effects of radiotherapy?
Neurocognitive
Endocrine: growth hormone deficiency, hypotyhroidism
Malignancy: breast, thyroid, sarcoma, lymphoma
MSK atrophy
Organ damage: cardiac, lung, GI
Describe the types of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Burkitt’s lymphoma with majority of B cells
- Lymphoblastic lymphoma with 80% T cells and 20% B cells
- Diffuse large B cell lymphoma with B cells
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma with 70% T cells, 20% null cells and 10% B cells
Describe veno-occlusive disease (VOD) or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS)
- Obstruction of small veins in the liver as a complication of high-dose myeloablative chemotherapy given before a bone marrow transplant
- Due to injury to hepatic venule, dilation of sinusoids and hepatocyte necrosis, sclerosis, collagen deposition -> obliteration and necrosis, fibrous tissue replacement of normal liver
- Triad of: weight gain, painful RUQ hepatomegaly, jaundice
- Onset within 30 days of SCT, occurs in 10-60%
- Ascites and hyperbilirubinaemia
- Image with doppler USS or CT
- Can treat with defibrotide (anti-thrombus, anti-inflamm). High mortality rates when associated with multiorgan failure
Target cells and tear drop cells are consistent with?
Thalassaemia trait
What is haemoglobin made up of and how is it made?
4 globin chains + haem Fetal = a2 + y2 Adult = a2 + b2 Haem is developed in the mitochondria of developing erythroblasts. Haem = porphyrin (from Vit B6) + iron. 90% of EPO comes from kidney.
Which factors shift the oxygen dissociation curve to the left?
Shift to left = increased affinity for oxygen
Alkalosis, low CO2, low temp, low 2,3 DPG, HbF
Which factors shift the oxygen dissociation curve to the right?
Shift to right = decreased affinity for oxygen
Acidosis, hight CO2, high temp, high 2,3 DPG, Hb S, exercise
i.e. shifts to right when tissues need more oxygen
“Right Raised Reduced affinity”
What is Hb Barts?
4 x fetal gamma chains due to 4 x alpha deletions
Describe the types and consequences of alpha thalassaemia
1 alpha missing - silent carrier, normal FBC
2 missing - alpha thalassaemia trait: mild anaemia
3 missing - HbH disease/alpha thalassaemia intermedia: mod anaemia, mild haemolysis, not transfusion dependant, HSM and skeletal changes
4 missing - Hb Barts: hydrops fetalis, newborn death due to severe anaemia, congestive heart failure. Can do IU transfusions and then BMT postnatally
BF: hypochromic, microcytic, target cells, golf-ball like
- Leads to excess b or y chains, abnormal O2 dissociation curves
Describe the types and consequences of beta thalassaemia
- Autosomal recessive, B+ (partial function), Bo (no function)
- Minor- B/Bo or B/B+. Mild microcytic anaemia, no Tx
- Intermedia - B+/B+ or B+/Bo. Mod haemolysis, mod-severe anaemia, not transfusion dependant, splenomegaly
- Major - Bo/Bo. Severe haemolysis from 3-6m life (after HbF decreases) transfusion-dependent, HSM, iron overload, bony deformities, “hair on end” skull x-ray, may need splenectomy
- Inc HbA2% (>3.5% in minor) and HbF%, inc RBC distribution width
- BF: microcytic hypochromic, target cells
- High Fe, transferrin, ferritin
Management of thalassaemia
If Hb <60 for ?3/12 then need regular transfusions
Iron chelation therapy (deferiprone or deferasirox)
May requite BMT, splenectomy
Gene therapy in future
Describe the mechanism of sickle-cell disease
- Single base mutation A->T which changes valine to glutamic acid on B-globin chain
- HbS is insoluble, forms crystals when exposed to low O2 tensions.
- Shifts O2 dissociation curve to right
- Presents >6m age when HbF-> HbA
- Sickle cell trait usually asymptomatic as long as well-oxygenated
Risks of sickle-cell disease
- Crisis: vaso-occlusion with ischaemia-reperfusion injury
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Above precipitated by infection, acidosis, dehydration, deoxygenation
- Infection risk: pneumococci, haemophilus, salmonella (due to impaired splenic function, defective complement activation, tissue ischaemia, micronutrient deficiencies)
- Stroke - progressive vasculopathy, moyamoya-like syndrome, acute IH when older, cognitive defects due to silent brain infarcts
- Aplastic crisis, often associated with parvovirus
- Acute chest syndrome - pulmonary infiltrate, infection, embolism, vaso-occlusion
Management of sickle-cell disease
- Penicillin prophylaxis + conjugate vaccines
- Hydroxyurea - increases HbF concentration
- RBC transfusions - decr HbS synthesis
- BMT is curative (inc morbidity and mortality)
- Opiates for acute pain in crisis
What are the causes of asplenia?
Surgical resection
Autosplenectomy (infarct e.g. sickle-cell)
Congenital asplenia syndromes
Iatrogenic/treatment for diseases (ITP, spherocytosis, thalassaemia)
What is hypersplenia?
High number of WCC, RCC, plts in spleen - get destroyed.
Due to infection (EBV, TB, hepatitis), alcohol, cirrhosis.
Splenomegaly.
Treat: underlying cause +/- splenectomy
Side effects of transfusion?
ABO-incompatibility - haemolysis, DIC, renal failure
Bacteria-contaminated infusion
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) - ARDS-like picture
Fever, rigors - cytokine production
Anaphylaxis, IgE
Side effects of massive transfusion protocol
Coagulopathy (relative decr platelets) Volume overload Hypothermia Hypokalaemia Hypocalcaemia
Describe transient erythroblastopenia of childhood
Pure red blood cell defect: low Hb, low retics, normal MCV
6m - 5y/o
Due to viral illness, spontaneous recovery
Expectant transfusion for symptomatic anaemia
Causes of anaemia
- Decreased substrate (Fe, B12, folate)
- Abnormal production (aplastic BM, malignancy, drugs, liver/renal disease, haemoglobinopathies)
- Increased destruction (haemolysis, congenital, autoimmune, infection, hypersplenism)
Causes of aplastic anaemia
- Constitutional: Fanconi anaemia, Dyskeratosis congenita, Schwachman-Diamond syndrome
- Acquired: idiopathic, drugs (acetazolamide, chloramphenicol), infections (EBV, parvovirus, viral hepatitis), toxins (glues), paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Tx: HSCT or immunosuppression (cyclosporin)
Causes of iron deficiency anaemia
Early weaning to cow's milk, cow's milk excess Coeliac disease Malabsorption Chronic blood loss Menstrual losses
What are the causes of microcytic anaemia?
Iron deficiency
Thalassaemia (beta or alpha)
Lead poisoning
Sideroblastic anaemia (iron present but cannot be utilised to make Hb)
Anaemia of chronic disease (infection, malignancy) - can be normocytic
Describe Fanconi Anaemia
- AR, mean onset age 8y. Defect in DNA-repair, increased chromosomal breakage.
- Marrow aplasia - all lines affected. Macrocytic anaemia
- Microcephaly, absent thumbs + radii, cafe au-lait, short stature, cutaneous hyperpigmentation, decreased fertility (hypogonad), develop delay
- Increased risk AML (30%) and solid tumours (25%)
- Tx: androgens (inc RBC synthesis), steroids, HSCT
Describe Dyskeratosis Congenita
- X-linked recessive, mean age 10 for skin, 17 for anaemia
- Associated with short telomeres (repair regions), similar to premature ageing
- Pancytopenia, hyperpigmentation, dystrophic nails, oral leukoplakia, pulmonary and liver fibrosis
- Tx: androgens (inc RBC synthesis), splenectomy, HSCT
- Inc risk oral, nasopharyngeal, vulvul cancers
Describe Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome
- Neutropenia +/- anaemia + thrombocytopenia
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- Skeletal abnormalities (esp hip and knee)
- Short stature
- Can progress to marrow aplasia or AML
Diamond-Blackfan Syndrome
- Newborn, 90% present <1yo. AR
- Pure RBC aplasia, elevated HbF, inc RBC adenosine deaminase activity
- Macrocytic, absent red cell precursors in marrow
- Short stature, webbed neck, cleft lip, triphalangeal thumb
- Late onset leukaemia
- Tx: steroids (80% respond, 20% remit), transfusion, HSCT
Describe hereditary spherocytosis
- Autosomal dominant
- Blood film: spherocytes, polychromasia (inc immature RBC)
- Bloods: DAT-ve, inc bili/retics/LDH, low Hb
- Splenomegaly
- EMA binding test (decr) + osmotic fragility test (inc fragility)
- Tx: folic acid, splenectomy, cholecystectomy
- Range from asymptomatic with mild anaemia to poor growth, jaundice, chronic transfusion requirement
Describe G6PD deficiency
- X-linked, African/Mediterranean/SE Asian
- Usually asymptomatic or prolonged jaundice
- Acute haemolysis triggered by meds (aspirin, antimalarials, cotrimox, nitrofurantoin), infections, acidosis, fava beans
- Decr NADPH (may be normal in acute haemolysis), low Hb, high retics
- Tx: supportive (hydration, transfusion)
Heinz bodies + bite cells on blood film
G6PD (bite cells are where the Heinz body has been “bitten” out/phagocytosed by splenic macrophages)
Describe pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Low PK level leads to low ATP which impairs RBC survival
- Tolerate low Hb due to inc in 2,3DPG and shift O2 curve to R - increased O2 availability
- AR
- Haemolysis secondary to infections e.g. parvovirus, not aggravated by stress
- Splenectomy to stop RBC destruction
- Can get chronic haemolytic anaemia, unconjugated jaundice
Causes of DAT/Coombs+ve
ABO incompatibility/ haemolytic disease of newborn
AIHA
Drug-induced HA
Haemolytic transfusion reactions
Causes of polycythaemia
- Primary (rare in childhood) - familial or congenital, polycythaemia vera
- Secondary - heart disease (ToF, CHD), lung disease, high altitude, congenital methaemoglobinaemia, neonates, delayed cord clamping. All are a response to hypoxia with increased EPO production
Describe autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Acute, self-limiting, often presents post virus (EBV, mycoplasma)
- DAT/Coombs +ve, low Hb, high retics
- Jaundice, splenomegaly, anaemia
- Causes: infections, drugs (penicillin, quinidine), SLE/RA, lymphoprolif disease (Hodgkin’s)
- Tx: supportive with folic acid, occ steroids, splenectomy, transfusions (but haemolyse), occ rituximab
Is beta thalassaemia associated with hydrops?
Not associated with fetal hydrops, as fetal haemoglobin (α2γ2) compensates
Most commonly implicated antigen in NAIT?
In Caucasian women it is Human Platelet Antigen 1a (HPA1a) which accounts for 85% of cases
Most commonly implicated antigen in NAIT?
In Caucasian women it is Human Platelet Antigen 1a (HPA1a) which accounts for 85% of cases. 3% population negative.
Abnormal thrombin time but normal reptilase time suggests?
Heparin (reptilase is resistant to inhibition by antithrombin III, thus is not prolonged in blood samples with heparin)
Causes of spherocytes on blood film?
Spherocytosis - reduced EMA binding
AIHA (usually warm HA)- normal EMA binding
What is Evan’s Syndrome?
Evans syndrome is an autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Coombs+ve.
Which factor stimulates eosinophil production?
IL-5
Causes of congenital neutropenia?
- Kostmann syndrome (recurrent infection, ELANE or HAX1 mutation, cognitive defects and seizures)
- Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SS, pancreatic insuff, skeletal abnorm)
- > significant infection history (pneumonia, abscess, gingivitis)
Describe chronic benign neutropenia
Autoimmune, can be post viral infection, at risk minor infections, usually ANA+ve, 95% remit in 6-24m. Can usually mount inc neutrophil response with infections (make neuts but destroyed by antibodies)
Causes of raised neutrophils
Infection Stress Exercise Seizures Toxic agents Steroids
Causes of chronic neutrophilia
Malignancy JIA Kawasaki Burns Uraemia Post-op Splenectomy
What cells do platelets develop from?
Megakaryocytes. Under control of thrombopoeitin and IL-6
Causes of thrombocytopenia?
- Impaired production - thrombocytopenia + absent radius syndrome, Fanconi anaemia, Wiskott-Aldrich, aplastic anaemia
- Decreased survival
- Immune mediated: ITP, NAIT, SLE, drug-induced, malignancy
- Non immune mediated: DIC, HUS, TTP, cyanotic CHD, Kasabach-Merrit
What percentage of ITP becomes chronic?
20%, usually older girls. Chronic = >6m duration
What is the risk of severe bleed in ITP?
<3%
When do you treat ITP, and what with?
IVIG, platelet transfusion (for ICH/surgery), tranexamic acid, steroids 2/52 (need BM first to r/o malignancy as steroids can mask this)
Treat if: mucosal bleeding, haematuria, ICH/head trauma, retinal haemorrhage, urgent surgery required
Causes of low platelets in neonate
Alloimmune (NAIT) - maternal antibodies to father’s platelet antigen. HPA1 most common (85%). Can occur in firstborn. If plts <20 urgent transfuse due to risk ICH first few days life +/- IVIG
Isoimmune (ITP) - mother will have low platelets
Sepsis
TORCH infection
What drugs can cause thrombocytopenia?
Sodium valproate Phenytoin Carbamazepine Cotrimoxazole Rifampicin Heparin
Signet rings within cells
Malaria
Howell-Jolly bodies
Hyposplenism
nuclear remnants in RBC that haven’t been removed as spleen is not working
Basophilic stipling
Lead poisoning
Auer rods
AML, needle-like
Blue cytoplasm with pink/red granules
AML
Vitamin-K dependant clotting factors
10, 9, 7, 2
Extrinsic coagulation cascade activated by?
Tissue thromboplastin
Prothrombin time measures?
Extrinsic pathway + common pathway
Factor 7, 5, 10, 2
APTT measures?
Intrinsic pathway + common pathway
Factor 8, 9, 11, 12, 5, 10, 2
Thrombin time measures?
Final part of common pathway (thrombin, fibrinogen -> fibrin). Prolonged by lack of fibrinogen, and inhibitors (heparin, fibrin degradation products)
Natural anticoagulants
Antithrombin III - most potent inhibitor, heparin potentiates its effect
Protein C - inhibits 5a, 8a, promotes fibrinolysis. Protein S enhances protein C action
Describe haemophilia A
- X-linked, 30% new mutations
- Carriers have variable F8 levels
- Neonate - IVH, haematoma, excessive bleeding
- Inc APTT, N PT + bleeding time, F8 decr
- Mild: DDAVP (releases vWF from endothelial cells, incr FVIII)
- Tranexamic acid for mucosal bleeds
- Mod+severe: recombinant F8, up to 20% develop inhibitors (low titre give inc doses F8. High titre use F7a to
bypass) - Mild 5-50% F8, mid 1-5%, severe <1%
Role of vWF?
Stabilises and protects F8 from proteolytic enzymes, mediates platelet adhesion. Produced by endothelial cells and platelets
Describe vWD
- F8 decr, vWF decr, bleeding time N or inc, plt count N, ristocetin cofactor activity decr (c.f. normal in Haemophilia A)
- T1: AD, 70%, partial def of vWF
- T2: abnormal vWF function, AD
- T3: complete absence, AR, present similarly to Haemophilia A
- Tx: DDAVP, tranexamic acid, type2b+3 require plasma-derived factor 8 concentrate (recombinant factor contains no vWF)
Describe Vit K deficiency of infancy
- Early, within 24 hrs, maternal warfarin or anticonvulsants
- Classic, 1-7d, idiopathic or BF babies
- Late, >8d, peaks several weeks, idiopathic or due to BFing, malabsorption, diarrhoea
- APTT inc, PT inc, plt + fibrinogen N. PT prolonged only when <50% prothrombin
- Tx: IV Vit K, works within 20 min, don’t given IM. FFP +/- transfusion
Presentation of F13 deficiency
Delayed bleeding from umbilicus/cord in up to 80%.
AR. Decr F13 level. Clots lyse in 5M urea solubility test.
Causes inability to cross-link fibrinogen. Lifelong risk ICH. Tx: fibrogammin.
Abnormalities of fibrinogen also present as cord oozing
Li Fraumeni predisposes to?
Soft tissue sarcoma, brain tumours
Von Hippel-Lindau predisposes to?
Cerebellar haemangioblastomas, renal cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma
Beckwith-Wiedemann predisposes to?
Hepatoblastoma, neuroblastoma. rhabdomyosarcoma. adenocortical carcinoma
Ataxia telangectasis predisposes to?
Leukaemia, B-cell lymphoma
Which chemotherapy drugs does not interact with DNA directly?
Vincristine
Describe lupus anticoagulant
- Acquired inhibitors that may produce a prolonged APTT
- Common, frequently associated with recent viral infections
- Transient
- They are not a risk for bleeding. Increased risk thrombosis
Highest risk for testicular relapse in leukaemia is in?
T cell ALL > B cell ALL
Describe Kasabach-Merritt syndrome
- Giant haemangioma leading to localised form of DIC
- Lesions at birth in approximately 50% of patients
- Severe thrombocytopaenia, hypofibrinogenemia, elevated fibrin degradations products and fragmentation of red blood cells
- Consumptive coagulopathy
- Tx: corticosteroids, interferon alpha, surgery, embolisation and chemo (vincristine, cyclophosphamide and actinomycin D)
What does cryoprecipitate contain?
Factor 8, fibrinogen, vWF, factor 13
What is the composition of ALL?
> 80% B-cell (pre-B or common ALL), 15% T-cell, 2% mixed
What is the most powerful adverse prognostic factor in ALL?
Poor response to induction chemo
Significance of presenting WCC count?
If high then poor prognosis in B-cell ALL
Not prognostic in T-cell ALL
What is the Philadelphia translocation, and what can improve its prognosis?
t(9;22), improved by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib)