T3 - Clinical haematology Flashcards
what is the only blood cell that has a nucleus?
white blood cells
what are the five types of WBCs?
neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes
what three things may cause leucocytosis (high WBCs)
infection, post operative and leukaemia
what four things may cause leucopenia (low WBCs)?
chemo, drugs, severe infection or immune disorders
what proportion of WBCs do neutrophils make up?
70%
what % of WBC to lymphocytes make up?
20%
what two ways can coagulation be assessed by?
FBC to measure plats then coagulation screen to measure clotting factors
what happens to RBCs after 100 days?
they are broken down to HB and iron then the iron is transported back to the BM to be recycled
what can affect the recycling of iron?
chronic bleeding - iron is lost and cant be recycled
what does the erythrocyte sedimentation test show and how does it work?
if there are increased levels of plasma protein in the blood
- works as usually RBCs repel each other as they are negatively charged but increased plasma protein levels cancel out the negative charge (as they are positive) so the RBCs stack up
compared to adults - what different proportions of blood cells do children have?
- less Hb
- more lymphocytes than neutrophils as they are still building memory
what are the characteristics of babies blood cells that are different to adults?
high Hb, RBCs, PCV and WBC levels
what are three causes of normocytic anaemia?
acute blood loss, anaemia of chronic disease and renal failure
what are the clinical symptoms of microcytic anaemia?
- pallor
- dyspnoea
- lethargy
- glossitis
- pale conjunctiva
- kolinychia
what the the appearance of RBC in microcytic anaemia?
low MCV and hypo chromic
what cause are two causes of microcytic anaemia?
iron deficiency and thalassemia
how can thalassemia be characterised on a blood film?
nucleated ‘target’ cells
how is microcytic anaemia treated?
with transfusions
what causes macrocytic anaemia?
B12/folate deficiency or alcoholic liver disease
what is seen in megaloblastic anaemia and what causes it?
large cells with a large nucleus (DNA is affected) caused by B12/folate deficiency
what is seen in non megaloblastic anaemia and what causes it?
large cells with a normal sized nucleus - cells are filled with lipid and is caused by alcoholic liver disease
what are the clinical symptoms of B12/folate deficiency?
- weight loss
- fatigue
- dementia
- glossitis
- jaundice
- neurological symptoms
what is the problem in anaemia that causes lack of production of red cells?
BM problem
what is seen in anaemia that causes increased destruction of red cells?
high reticulocyte levels
