Pathology Flashcards
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Mechanism/Etiology: Autoimmune IgG against platelet antigen GPIIb/IIIa -> autoantibodies produced in spleen by plasma cells and antibody-bound platelets are consumed in spleen by splenic macrophages –> thrombocytopenia
Presentation:
Acute- children, weeks after viral infection/vaccination; self-limited: resolves w/in weeks
Chronic- adults, usually F childbearing age; Primary or secondary to another autoimmune disorder. Can cause temporary thrombocytopenia in baby since IgG crosses placenta
Clinical features:
-mucosal and skin bleeding
Low platelet count (
Microangiopathic hemolytic anema
Mechanism: Platelet microthrombi in small vessels -> platelets consumed in formation of microthrombi (thrombocytopenia) and RBCs sheared -> hemolytic anemia with schistocytes and mucosal and skin bleeding from thrombocytopenia
Seen in TTP and HUS
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
Mechanism: Decreased ADAMTS13, usually due to acquired autoantibody (adult females) -> impaired degradation of vWF multimers -> increased platelet adhesion -> microthrombi -> microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Clinical features:
Skin and mucosal bleeding
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Fever
Renal insufficiency (less prominent in TTP)
CNS abnormalities (more prominent in TTP)
Lab findings:
Low platelet count with increased bleeding time
Normal PT/PTT
Anemia w/ schistocytes
Increased megakaryocytes on bone marrow biopsy
Treatment: plasmapheresis (remove auto-abs) and corticosteroids (reduce production of auto-abs)
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
Pathogenesis: Caused by endothelial damage by drugs or infection -> increased platelet activation -> microthrombi -> microthrombocytic hemolytic anemia
-Classically in kids with E coli O157:H7 dysentery from undercooked beef –> E coli verotoxin damages endothelial cells and decreases ADAMTS13
Clinical features:
Skin and mucosal bleeding
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Fever
Renal insufficiency (more prominent in HUS)
CNS abnormalities (less prominent in HUS)
Lab findings:
Low platelet count with increased bleeding time
Normal PT/PTT
Anemia w/ schistocytes
Increased megakaryocytes on bone marrow biopsy
Bernard-Soulier syndrome
Pathogenesis: GP1b deficiency -> impaired platelet adhesion to vWF
Clinical features: -mucosal and skin bleeding -normal/slightly low platelet count -increased bleeding time -blood smear shows enlarged platelets No agglutination on ristocetin (vWF agonist) cofactor assay (Note: also seen with vWF disease)
Glanzmann thrombasthenia
pathogenesis: Genetic GPIIb/IIIa deficiency-> platelet aggregation impaired
Clinical features
- mucosal and skin bleeding
- normal platelet count
- increased bleeding time
- Agglutination on ristocetin (vWF agonist) cofactor assay
Note: analogous to GpIIb/IIIa inhibitory actions of Abciximab, eptifibatide and tirofiban
What are the three activating requirements for the coagulation cascade?
- exposure to activating substance
- tissue thromboplastin activates VII (extrinsic)
- subendothelial collagen activates XII (intrinsic) - phosholipid surface of platelets
- calcium (from platelet dense granules)
What are common symptoms of disorders of secondary hemostasis (coagulation factor abnormalities)
deep tissue bleeding into muscles and joints (hemarthrosis) and rebleeding after surgical procedures
Hemophilia A, B, C
Hemophilia A (most common) -XR or de novo mutation -> factor VIII deficiency Hemophilia B - XR, Factor IX deficiency Hemophilia C- AR, Factor XI deficiency
Clinical features:
- macrohemorrhage in hemophilia- hemarthroses, easy bruising, bleeding after procedures
- Increased PTT, normal PT
- decreased coagulation factor
- normal platelet count and bleeding time
Treatment: desmopressin (increases release of vWF and factor VIII from endothelial cells) + recombinant missing factor
Coagulation factor inhibitor
Antibody against coagulation factor- anti-FVIII most common
-Clinically similar to hemophilia A but PTT does NOT correct when mixed with normal plasma, unlike hemophilia A which does correct
Von Willebrand Disease
*Most common inherited coagulation disorder
Pathogenesis: most commonly AD genetic vWF deficiency -> impaired platelet adhesion and decreased FVIII (vWF stabilizes FVIII)
Clinical features:
- Mild mucosal and skin bleeding
- Hx of mucosal bleeding- gingival, epistaxis and/or menorrhagia
- increased bleeding time
- increased PTT (low FVIII), normal PT
- *Abnormal ristocetin (induces platelet agglutination) test –> lack of vWF -> impaired agglutination -> abnormal test
Treatment: desmopressin (ADH analog) increases vWF release from Weibel-Palade bodies
Vitamin K deficiency
Normal physiology: Vitamin K activated by epoxide reductase; activated vitamin K gamma carboxylases factors II, VII, IX, X, and proteins C, S (intrinsic and extrinsic)
Deficiency etiology:
Newborns- lack GI bacteria that normally synthesize vitamin K; give vitamin K prophylactically at birth
Long-term antibiotic therapy - decreases vitamin K producing bacteria in GI tract
Malabsorption of fat soluble vitamins
Clinical features:
Increased PT and PTT
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Heparin forms complex with platelet factor 4
Autoantibodies against Heparin-PF4 complex:
- cause spleen to consume platelets -> thrombocytopenia
- fragments of destroyed platelets activate other platelets -> thrombosis
Treatment: discontinue and give another anti-coagulant, but NOT coumadin due to worry of skin necrosis
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Pathogenesis: Pathologic complete activation of coagulation cascade-> widespread microthrombi –> thrombocytopenia and ischemia and infarction
Etiology: usually secondary
- Obstetric complications (tissue factor in amniotic fluid)
- Sepsis (especially E. coli or N. meningitidis) exotoxins and cytokines induce tissue factor production
- Adenocarcinoma
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia (primary granules activate coag.)
- Rattlesnake bite
Clinical features:
- superficial bleeding, especially from IV sites
- low platelet count
- increased PT/PTT
- decreased fibrinogen (whole coag cascade activated)
- **Elevated D-dimer (from splitting of cross-linked fibrin)
Treatment:
transfuse blood products and cryoprecipitate
Normal fibrinolysis
- tPA converts plasminogen to plasmin
- Plasmin: 1) cleaves fibrin and fibrinogen, 2) destroys coagulation factors, 3) blocks platelet aggregation
- alpha2-antiplasmin inactivates plasmin
Fibrinolysis disorders
Pathogenesis: overactivity of plasmin -> excessive cleavage of fibrinogen -> increased bleeding
Etiology:
Radical prostatectomy: urokinase activates plasmin
Cirrhosis - reduced production of alpha2-antiplasmin
Lab findings:
- Increased PT/PTT
- Increased bleeding time with normal platelet count
- Increased fibrinogen split products WITHOUT D-dimers
Treatment: aminocaproic acid -> blocks conversion of plasminogen to plasmin
Histologic features of DVT
- lines of Zahn (alternating layers platelets/fibrins and RBCs)
- attachement to vessel wall
What mechanisms by endothelial cells prevent thrombosis?
- block exposure to subendothelial collagen and tissue factor
- produce PGI2 (prostacyclin) and NO -> vasodilate and inhibit platelet aggregation
- Secrete heparin-like molecules which stimulate antithrombin III (ATIII)
- Secrete tPA- converts plasminogen to plasmin
- Secrete thrombomodulin -> redirect thrombin to activate protein C -> inactivates FV and FVIII
How do high levels of high levels of homocysteine cause endothelial cell damage?
- vitamin B12 and folate deficiency -> decreased conversion of homocysteine to methionine –> high homocysteine levels -> build up causes endothelial damage
- Cystathionine beta synthase deficiency -> Homocystinuria
- thrombosis, retardation, lens dislocation, long slender fingers
Protein C or S deficiency
AD deficiency
Pathogenesis: Decreased protein C and S -> increased FV and FVIII activation -> increased coagulation
Clinical features:
- increased venous and arterial clots
- increased risk for warfarin skin necrosis since initial stage of therapy causes deficiency of C and S relative to other factors
Factor V Leiden
*Most common inherited hypercoaguable state in caucasians
mutated factor V lacks cleavage site for deactivation by proteins C and S –> overactive factor V –> hypercoaguable state
Prothrombin 20210A (gene mutation)
inherited point mutation in prothrombin 3’ untranslated region -> increased gene expression -> increased thrombin -> thrombosis
Antithrombin deficiency
Inherited ATIII deficiency decreases protective effect of heparin-like molecules and increase risk of thrombus
-can be acquired in renal failure/nephrotic syndrome: ATIII loss in urine -> decreased inhibition of IIa and Xa
Clinical features:
- PTT does NOT rise with standard heparin dose
- High doses of heparin required to activate the limited ATIII then coumadin given to maintain anticoagulation state
Types of embolism
Thromboembolism most common
- Atherosclerotic embolus
- Fat embolus: associated with bone fractures and soft tissue trauma; see petechiae on skin over the chest and bone marrow elements in vessel
- Gas embolus: decompression sickness with divers (joint/muscle pain and dyspnea), Caisson disease (multifocal ischemic necrosis of bone), laparascopic surgery
- Amniotic fluid embolus during labor/delivery; characterized by squamous cells and keratin debris from fetal skin in embolus
Microcytic anemia
Anemia with MCV ‘extra’ division –> smaller than normal RBCs
Hemoglobin deficiency can be caused by deficiency in: iron, protoporphyrin (make up heme) or globin
Causes:
- iron deficiency anemia (late stage)
- anemia of chronic disease (late)
- sideroblastic anemia (decreased protoporphyrin)
- thalassemia (decreased globin)
- lead poisoning (decreased protoporphyrin)
Iron deficiency anemia
Pathogenesis: low Fe -> low heme -> low Hb -> microcytic anemia
-Most common form of anemia
Causes:
- infants- dietary lack of Fe in breastmilk
- kids- poor diet
- adults (20-50yo) - peptic ulcer disease (M) and menorrhagia or pregnancy (F)
- elderly - colon polyps/cancer (West); hookworm (Ancylostoma and Necator) in developing world
- Gastrectomy -> decreased H+ -> less iron in Fe2+ state -> less absorption -> anemia
Stages of iron deficiency:
- storage iron depleted - low ferritin, high TIBC
- serum Fe depleted - low serum Fe, low % sat
- Normocytic anemia - bone marrow makes fewer normal sized RBCs
- microcytic hypochromic anemia - bone marrow makes smaller and fewer RBCs
- increased RDW
- Increased free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP)
Clinical features: koilonychia (spoon nails) and pica and anemia symptoms
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
iron deficiency anemia + esophageal web + atrophic glossitis
Anemia of chronic disease
Pathogenesis: chronic inflammation or cancer -> increased acute phase reactants from liver including hepcidin -> hepcidin sequesters iron into storage:
- limit Fe transfer from macrophages to erythroblasts
- suppress EPO production
- -> prevent bacteria getting iron -> low Fe -> low heme -> low Hb -> normocytic anemia -> microcytic anemia
Lab findings:
MCV
Sideroblastic anemia
Defect in protoporphyrin synthesis -> microcytic anemia
Protoporphyrin deficiency-> iron trapped in mitochondria -> Iron-laden mitochondria form ring around nucleus –> ringed sideroblasts
Congential defect:
- X-linked ALAS defect (rate-limiting step)
Acquired:
- alcoholism (mitochondria poison)
- lead poisoning - inhibits ALAD and ferrochelatase
- vitamin B6 deficiency (isoniazid treatment toxicity)
alpha-thalassemia
alpha-globin gene deletion (chromosome 16) - 4 total genes
2 genes deleted - mild anemia with increased RBC count
- cis deletion (2 genes on same chromosome deleted) - Asians, risk of severe thalassemia in offspring
- trans deletion - Africans
3 genes deleted- severe anemia, beta tetramers (HbH) damage RBCs are seen on electrophoresis
4 genes deleted - hydrops fetalis- fatal in utero; gamma chains form tetramers (Hb Barts)
beta-thalassemia
beta-globin gene point-mutation in splice sites (chromosome 11) only 2 genes
-prevalent in African and Mediterranean populations
beta-thalassemia minor (beta/beta+) - mild form
- asymptomatic w increased RBCs
- microcytic hypochromic RBCs and target cells
- HbA2 >3.5%
beta-thalassemia major (beta0/beta0) - severe
- severe anemia few months post birth
- alpha chains form tetramers and damage RBCs -> extravascular hemolysis
- erythroid hyperplasia -> hematopoiesis into skull w/ “crew cut” appearance on x-ray and into facial bones w/ “chipmunk facies”
- risk aplastic crisis w parvovirus B19
- chronic transfusions necessary (risk of hemochromatosis)
- smear: microcytic hypochromic RBCs w target cells and nucleated RBCs
- electrophoresis: HbA2 and HbF w/ no HbA
Causes of megaloblastic macrocytic anemia
anemia with MCV >100fL due to impairment of DNA pre-cursor synthesis
- folate or vitamin B12 deficiency
- orotic aciduria
Folate deficiency
deficiency develops w/in months. Absorbed in jejunum
Causes:
- poor diet (alcoholics and elderly)
- increased demand (preg, cancer, hemolytic anemia)
- folate antagonists (methotrexate, TMP, phenytoin)
Clinical features:
- Macrocytic RBCs and hypersegmented PMNs
- Glossitis
- decreased serum folate
- increased homocysteine (increased risk for thrombosis)
- NORMAL methylmalonic acid (contrast w B12 deficiency)
- NO neuro symptoms
B12 (cobalamin) deficiency
Takes years to develop. B12 needs pancreatic protease be able to bind to IF. Absorbed in ileum
Causes:
- insufficient intake (vegans)
- malabsorption (Crohn disease)
- pancreatic insufficiency
- pernicious anemia* most common cause
- Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm)
- gastrectomy
Clinical findings:
- Macrocytic RBCs w hypersegmented PMNs
- glossitis
- Increased homocysteine
- Increased methylmalonic acid (MMA)
- Neuro symptoms: subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord due to build up of MMA in myelin
Pernicious anemia
autoimmune destruction of parietal cells -> intrinsic factor deficiency -> B12 deficiency -> megaloblastic anemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
Pathogenesis: Inherited defect of RBC cytoskeleton membrane tethering proteins (ankyrin, band 3.1, protein 4.2, spectrin) -> membrane blebs -> spleen removes blebbed membrane –> RBCs become round spherocytes –> consumed by splenic macrophages -> normocytic anemia
Clinical features:
- spherocytes w loss of central pallor
- increased RDW and MCHC
- normal to low MCV
- osmotic fragility test (+)
- splenomegaly, jaundice and increase risk gallstones
- increased risk aplastic crisis w parvovirus B19
Treatment: splenectomy -> will still get spherocytes and then Howell-Jolly bodies, but anemia resolves
Orotic aciduria
Inability to convert orotic acid -> UMP due to defect in UMP synthase
-Autosomal recessive
Clinical features:
- failure to thrive, developmental delay and megaloblastic anemia refractory to folate and B12
- Orotic acid in urine
- NO hyperammonemia (unlike OTC deficiency which also increases orotic acid)
Treatment: UMP to bypass mutated enzyme