SA haematology Flashcards
what is anaemia?
reduction in RBC mass (clinical sign not disease)
what are ways of measuring RBC mass?
PCV/haematocrit
RBC count
total haemoglobin
what are the three causes of anaemia?
inadequate production
increased destruction
loss (haemorrhage)
what is the typical appearance of RBCs in anaemia caused by inadequate production by bone marrow?
normocytic normochromic
what is the typical appearance of RBCs in anaemia caused by increased destruction?
macrocytic hypochromic
what is the typical appearance of RBC in anaemia caused by loss (haemorrhage)?
microcytic hypochromic
how can red blood cell size be described?
microcytic
normocytic
macrocytic
is anaemia due to loss (haemorrhage) regenerative?
not regenerative enough (lack of iron)
what increases in erythrocytes in animals with anaemia?
2,3-DPG
what does an increase in 2-3-DPG in erythrocytes of anaemic animals do?
lowers the oxygen-haemoglobin affinity so more oxygen is delivered to tissue
what does reduced tissue perfusion simulate?
increase erythropoietin levels stimulating erythropoiesis
what are the three ways of classifying anaemia?
severity
erythrocyte index
regenerate response
what is the PCV of a dog with mild anaemia?
30-36%
what is the PCV of a cat with mild anaemia?
20-24%
what is the PCV of a dog with moderate anaemia?
18-29%
what is the PCV of a cat with moderate anaemia?
15-19%
what is the PCV of a dog with severe anaemia?
<18%
what is the PCV of a cat with severe anaemia?
<15%
how can the erythrocyte index be described?
microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic
hypochromic, normochromic
what is used to determine if nan anaemia is regenerative or not?
reticulocyte count
what stain is used to visualise reticulocytes?
new methylene blue (blue speckles)
how long does it take to see an increase in reticulocytes in regenerative anaemia?
2-3 days (peaks at 7 days)
are all polychromatophils reticulocytes?
yes (not all reticulocytes are polychromatophilic)
what are the main causes of regenerative anaemia?
haemorrhage
haemolysis
what are the two types of feline reticulocytes?
aggregate
punctate
when are aggregate reticulocytes seen?
first 24 hours after being released from bone marrow
which feline reticulocyte should be counted when assessing if an anaemia is regenerative or not?
aggregate
how long does it take for iron stores to deplete in cases of chronic bleeding?
> 1 month
what is the cause of anaemia in chronic bleeding patients?
iron deficiency (initially regenerative but becomes less and less)
how do RBCs appear in iron deficiency anaemias?
hypochromic (less iron)
microcytic
what is used to treat iron deficiency anaemia?
iron supplement (ferrous sulphate) blood transfusion (packed red cell)
what are the two classes of haemolysis?
immune mediated
non immune mediated
what are some examples of non immune mediated haemolysis?
oxidative damage (onions, paracetamol...) intra-erythrocytic parasites mechanical damage
how does extravascular haemolysis occur?
antibody binds to RBC and macrophage causes phagocytosis/lysis
what is formed from partial phagocytosis of a RBC?
spherocyte
what system is activated during intravascular haemolysis?
complement (extensive inflammation)
why does intravascular haemolysis lead to renal compromise?
free haemoglobin in blood (haemoglobinaemia) which is toxic to the tubular epithelium
do animals with intravascular or extravascular haemolysis appear sicker?
intravascular
what is typically seen on haematology of a patient with immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
regenerative anaemia
autoagglutination
spherocytes
how do spherocytes appear compared to RBCs?
smaller, rounder and denser
where should be looked on a blood smear for spherocytes?
monolayer
what are ghost cells?
lysed RBCs
what can cause autoagglutination of RBC in cases of immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
anti-erythrocyte IgM
high levels of anti-erythrocyte IgG
how does autoagglutination of RBCs appear?
cluster of grapes
what causes rouleaux formations?
increased plasma proteins coating RBCs (stacking of RBCs)
what type of blood should be used for the saline agglutination test?
anticoagulated
what is the Coombs test used for?
detect presence of antierythrocyte antibodies (can’t be done if agglutination present)
what will be seen on biochemistry of animals with immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
elevated ALT and AP
hyperbilirubinaemia
azotaemia
what is seen on urinalysis of animals with immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
haemoglobinuria
bilirubinuria
proteinuria
what are the three treatments needed immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
immunosuppression
antithrombotics
supportive
what is the first choice drug for immunosuppression in immune mediated haemolytic anaemia cases?
prednisolone
dexamethasone, ciclosporin, azathioprine
what are some side effects of corticosteroids?
PU/PD
muscle wasting
GI (ulcers and gastritis)
when is a second like immunosuppressant used in immune mediated haemolytic anaemia cases?
life threatening disease
no response to first
severe corticosteroid side effects
what type of drug is prednisolone?
corticosteroid
what can be used if an immune mediated haemolytic anaemia patient hasn’t responded to two immunosuppressants?
immunoglobulins (one off treatment)
how long does treatment of immune mediated haemolytic anaemia with immunosuppressants typically last?
4-8 months (some lifelong) - some can relapse
what immune mediated haemolytic anaemia patients is antithrombotic therapy used in?
severe intravascular haemolysis
are blood transfusions indicated for immune mediated haemolytic anaemia?
no - often haemolyse the donor RBCs
what is neonatal isoerythrolysis?
destruction of neonates RBCs by maternal antibodies (antibodies in colostrum)
what cat breed is neonatal isoerythrolysis seen in?
British shorthair
what is microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia?
RBCs damaged/fragmented as they pass through fibrin meshwork of microvasculature
what are some examples of causes of microangiopathic anaemia?
fibrin clots (DIC) glomerulonephritis congenital defects
what are formed from mechanical damage to RBCs (microangiopathic anaemia)?
schistocytes (sheared RBC)
what are acanthocytes?
RBCs with multiple rounded projections
what occurs due to oxidative damage of RBCs?
methaemoglobinaemia
heinz body formation
RBC membrane oxidation
what can cause oxidative injury to RBCs?
onions and zinc (dogs)
paracetamol (cats)
what are Heinz bodies?
round pale inclusions on the inner surface of RBC membranes (aggregates of denatured haemoglobin)
what stain is used to visualise Heinz bodies?
methylene blue
what are three causes of intrinsic haemolytic anaemias?
pyruvate kinase deficiency
phosphofructokinase deficiency
osmotic fragility
what mycoplasma is associated with regenerative anaemia?
Mycoplasma haemofelis
what is used to treat Mycoplasma haemofelis?
doxycycline
prednisolone
(no cure - remain carriers)
what is the characteristic feature of non-regenerative anaemias?
absence of reticulocytes
what causes non-regenertive anaemia?
marrow disease
lack of erythropoietin
what are some causes of intramarrow disease?
drug reactions
oestrogen toxcitiy
pure red cell aplasia
what does oestrogen toxicity cause?
thrombocytopenia
neutropenia
anaemia
(pancytopenia)
what cells are effected by red cell aplasia?
just erythrocytes
what cells are effected by aplastic anaemia?
all cell lines (pancytopenia)
what is myelofibrosis?
proliferation of collagen and reticulin fibres in bone marrow