Paeds Haematology Flashcards
Adult Hb vs Fetal Hb
Fetal Hb picks up O2 from the Placenta stealing it from mother.
The Hb concentration is high at birth (>14 g/dl)
but falls to its lowest level at 2 months of age.
Fetal Hb: 2 Alpha 2 Gamma
Adult: 2 Alpha 2 Beta
HbF strucutre = greater affinity for O2 therefore creating that dynamic in the womb where it takes more O2 from the mother’s womb
From 32wk Gestation HbF down and HbA up by 6mths very little HbF remains
Adult haemoglobin requires a higher partial pressure of oxygen for the molecule to fill with oxygen compared with fetal haemoglobin.
Epidemiology & Pathophysiology of Iron Deficient Anaemia
- Common in infants because additional iron is required for increase in blood volume accompanying growth.
- Bone marrow requires Iron to produce Hb for blood exchange -> lack of dietary iron = less for Hb production
Evidence that IDA may be detrimental to behaviour and intellectual function.
Causes of Iron Deficient Anaemia
- Inadequate Iron intake (including breast milk)
- Malabsorption
- Blood loss
Cow’s milk poor source compared to breast & formula milk
Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficient Anaemia
Assymptomatic until Iron below 60-70g/L
- Tiredness (infants feed more slowly)
- Headaches, Diziness, Palpitations
- Pallor
- Palmar creases
- Kolonychia
- Angular Chealitis
- Pica
- Britle hair and nails
- Atropic Glossitis
Investigations and Management of IDA
Serum Iron alone not a useful measure
What is the role of a certain Vitamin..
- Low MCV and MCH & Ferritin
- Management: Dietary advice and supplementation
- Vit C given to aid Iron absorption
Ferritin is the form that iron takes when stored in cells – a patient with a normal ferritin can still have IDA, particularly in cases where they may have a raised ferritin normally such as infection.
Epidemiology & Causes of Thalassaemia
chromosomes & areas commonly seen
- Autosomal Recessive
- Chromosome 16: Alpha
- Chromosome 11: Beta
- Commonly seen in people from Indian Subcontinent/Mediteranean/Middle East
Chromosome 16
Alpha Thalassaemia Pathophysiology
Alpha Major, trait and HbH disease.
Healthy individuals have 2 Beta globin chains and 4 Alpha globin chains
Major: Deletion of all 4 genes -> no HbA or HbF (Hb Barts hydrops fetalis)
HbH: 3 genes deleted
Trait: Deletion of 1 or 2 genes
Signs and Symptoms of Thalassaemia
Beta Major, B Intermedia, Alpha Major, HbH
Beta Major: Severe Anaemia, Jaundice, faltering growth, extramedullary haemopoiesis prevented by transfusions - Hepatosplenomegaly, bone marrow expansion (skull bossing and maxilary overgrowth)
Intermedia: Usually asymptomatic
Alpha Major: Fatal in utero or within hours of delivery
HbH: Mild/Moderate Anaemia Symptoms
Trait are usually asymptomatic or minor anaemia symptoms
Complications of Thalassaemia: Iron Overload similar symptoms of Haematomachrosis: Fatigue, liver cirrhosis, infertility, HF, arthritis, diabetes. Perform Iron Chealation
Investigation and Management of Thalassaemia
- Hypochromic Microcytic Anaemia with Normal Serum Ferritin
- Hb electrophoresis then performed for diagnosis
- Trait: Monitor
- Intermedia: Monitor + Occasional Transfusion
- Major: Lifelong transfusion
GIVE CHEALATION WITH TRANSFUSION TO PREVENT IRON OVERLOAD
In Alpha you can perform splenectomy or BM Transplant
Chromosome 11
Beta Thalassaemia Pathophysiology
Beta Minor, Intermedia, Major
Healthy individuals have 2 Beta globin chains and 4 Alpha globin chains
Minor: One gene affected one normal
Intermedia: One defected and One deleted gene - Small production of HbA and HbF
Major: Both affected: non functioning = no HbA produced
Risk factors for Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
Neonatal Jaundice
Caused by incompatibility between the rhesus antigens on the surface of the red blood cells of the mother -ve and fetus +ve. Most important antigen within the rhesus blood group system is the rhesus D antigen.
- Maternal Sensitisation to RhD antigen
- History of delivery of Rh+ve Fetus to Rh-ve mother
- Feto-maternal haemorrhage
- Invasive Foetal procedures
- Placental Trauma
- Multiparity
- Abortion
- No Rh Immunoprophylaxis
Pathophysiology of Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
& Complications
- During first pregnancy Rh-ve mother receives Rh+ve blood from fetus during cross over
- Rh-ve then form IgM antibodies to Rh+ve blood
- Subsequent pregnancy IgM becomes IgG which can cross placenta
- These IgG cross placenta and cause Haemolysis
- Haemolysis = excess bilirubin from breakdown = Jaundice
Complications: Kernicterus if deposition of bilirubin in basal ganglia or Hydrops fetalis when there’s Hb Deficit
Investigating Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
& Management
After birth the baby may have pallor from anaemia, jaundice due to the high levels of bilirubin from RBC haemolysis. There may also be hepatosplenomegaly.
- Coomb’s Test: +ve
Test is only +ve in antibody mediated anaemias. - Pregnant Women (RhD-ve) given anti D immunoprophylaxis at wk 28 + if baby is positive then another dose given at birth.
- Affected baby: Phototherapy and potential transfusion.
Anti D immunoprophylaxis destroys foetal RhD+ve which crosses over.
Causes of Neonatal Jaundice
- Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn
- G6PD deficiency
- Spherocytosis
- Congential Infections
- ABO incompatibility: Group O women have IgG anti-A in the blood that can cross placenta occasionally anti-B too
RFs and Causes of Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell: Formation of abnormal Hb chain: HbS
- Autosomal Recessive -> Abnormal Beta Globlin on Chromosome 11
- Most common inherited disorder in Europe
- Common in Tropical Africa, Caribbean & ME
- 1 in 2000
HbAA is normal
Pathophysiology Sickle Cell Disease
HbSS, HbSC, Sickle Beta Thalassaemia, Sickle Trait
- Substitution of Glutamine (polar) to Valine (non polar) in Hb protein leading to HbS (sickle)
- HbS polymerises within RBC deforming cells into irreversible Sickle shape, which have reduced lifespan and may be trapped in microcirculation
- HbSS - Sickle Cell Anaemia. Pts are homozygous for the mutation leading to all Hb being HbS
- HbSC - Mild form of Sickle Cell. HbS from one parent and HbC (point mutation in beta globin) from ther other
- HbAS - Sickle Cell trait: Asymptomatic Carriers.
- Sickle Cell Beta Thalassaemia: Inherit HbS from one parent and Beta Thalassaemia from the other.
Sickle cells are fragile and haemolyse; they block small blood vessels and cause infarction