Paediatric Haematology Flashcards
Two broad causes of Anaemia
Impaired red cell production
Increased red cell destruction (haemolysis)
Causes of red cell aplasia
Parvovirus B19 infection
Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (congenital red cell aplasia)
Transient erythroblastopenia of childhood
Rarities: Fanconi anaemia, aplastic anaemia, leukaemia
Causes of ineffective erythropoiesis
Iron deficiency Folic deficiency Chronic inflammation (JIA) Chronic renal failure Rarities: Myelodysplasia, lead poisoning
Causes of red cell membrane disorders
Hereditary spherocytosis
Causes of red cell enzyme disorders
G6P dehydrogenase deficiency
Haemoglobinopathies
Thalassemia’s, sickle cell
Immune causes of increased red cell destruction
HDN
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Iron deficiency Anaemia: Presentation
Most asymptomatic until Hb below 60 – 70g/dL; Tire easier, feed slower than usual; General pallor is unreliable compared to pallor of Conjunctiva, Tongue or Palmar creases
Iron deficiency Anaemia: What is seen on blood film
Microcytic, Hypochromic Anaemia; Low Ferritin
Iron deficiency Anaemia: Causes
Inadequate intake, Malabsorption or Blood loss; Common in Infants as additional iron is required for increased blood volume following growth
Iron deficiency Anaemia: Sources of Iron for the infant
o Iron can come from Breastmilk (Low iron content, but 50% Iron absorbed vs 10% in Cow’s milk); Infant Formula (Supplemented)
o Solids introduced at weaning (E.g. Cereals; Supplemented but only 1% absorbed)
o Iron Absorption is markedly increased when eaten with food rich in Vitamin C; Absorption is inhibited by Tannins (E.g. in Tea)
Other causes of microcytic anaemia
Other causes of Microcytic Anaemia include Beta (and some Alpha) Thalassaemia Trait, Anaemia of Chronic Disease
Management of Iron Deficiency Anaemiaa
Dietary Advice and Supplementation with Oral Iron (Sytron =Sodium iron Edetate, or Niferex =Polysaccharide Iron Complex); Should be continued even after anaemia corrected for 3/12
o If taken accordingly, Hb should rise about 10g/dL per week
o Consider other causes if failure to respond in compliant patients, or non-dietary causes suspected – Malabsorption, or Chronic Loss
o Blood Transfusion should never be necessary – Can Tolerate as low as 20-30g/dL
• Treatment of deficiency with normal Hb (Non-Anaemic) – Oral Iron for Iron deficiency with normal Hb is not recommended; Dietary advice initially instead
3 Main types of red cell aplasias in children
Congenital (Diamond-Blackfan), Transient Erythroblastopaenia of Childhood (TEC), and Parvovirus B19 Infection (Only causes Aplastic Crisis in children with Haemolytic Anaemias)
Red Cell Aplasia: Investigation results
Low Reticulocyte count despite low Hb, Normal Bilirubin (Non-haemolytic), Negative Direct Antiglobulin Test (Non-AIHA) and absent red cell precursors in Bone Marrow
Diamond Blackfan
Diamond-Blackfan is rare; Can be associated with other anomalies such as Short stature or Abnormal thumbs; Treatment with Steroids, Monthly Transfusions or Stem Cell Transplant
Transient Erythroblastopaenia of Childhood (TEC)
TEC triggered by Viral Infections, similar presentation to DBA; Always recovers, usually within weeks; No family history, no congenital anomalies
Haemolytic Anaemias
Reduced RBC lifespan; Increased destruction either in circulation (Intravascular) or in Liver (Extravascular); Increased Bone Marrow production to compensate to a point
Causes of haemolytic anaemias in children
o In children (unlike Neonates), Immune Haemolytic Anaemias are uncommon; Mainly due to Membrane Defects, Enzymopathies or Haemoglobinopathies
Signs of Haemolysis
Haemolysis leads to Anaemia, Hepatomegaly, Splenomegaly, Increased Blood Unconjugated Bilirubin, Excess Urinary Urobilinogen, Raised Reticulocyte count, Abnormal RBC on Film, Positive DAT if Immune cause, Increased RBC precursors in Bone Marrow
Hereditary Spherocytosis
1 in 5000; Autosomal dominant or de-novo; RBC membrane protein mutations, resulting in membrane vulnerable to damage when travelling through spleen
Hereditary Spherocytosis : Signs
Mostly asymptomatic; Can have intermittent Jaundice, severe in first few days of life, Anaemia, Mild-to-moderate Splenomegaly, Aplastic Crisis when infected with Parvo, and Gallstones due to increased Bilirubin excretion
Hereditary Spherocytosis : Diagnosis
Diagnosis by Blood Film and other specialist tests
Hereditary Spherocytosis : Management
Oral Folic acid (higher requirement); Splenectomy is beneficial but only for poor growth or severe symptoms, and deferred >7yrs due to risk of Post-Splenectomy Sepsis
o Prior to surgery should receive HiB, Men C and Pneumococcal vaccine, with lifelong Oral Penicillin replacement
o Aplastic Crisis – Might require one or two transfusions over 3-4-week period
G6PD Deficiency
• Most common Human Enzymopathy; 10-20% Prevalence in Central Africa, Mediterranean, Middle and Far East; Rate-limiting Enzyme in Pentose Phosphate Pathway, which is essential for protecting RBC against oxidative damage
o Hence, more vulnerable to Oxidant-induced Haemolysis, usually drug-induced
o X-linked; Predominantly causes symptoms in males
G6PD Deficiency: Presentation
• Present with Neonatal Jaundice (most common cause of
severe Neonatal Jaundice requiring exchange transfusion) or Acute Haemolysis (Most commonly due to infection; Also, certain drugs, Flava Beans, Naphthalene
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• Between episodes patients are normal;