The White Cell Flashcards
What cell types are included in a WC differential?
Neutrophils Lymphocytes Eosinophils Monocytes Basophil
What is the function of Neutrophils?
Ingest/kill bacteria, fungi, cellular debris
What is the function of Lymphocytes?
Produce antibodies for cell-mediated immunity
What is the function of Eosinophils?
Role in allergic reactions, defence of parasitic infection
What is the function of Monocytes?
Precursor to tissue macrophages
What is the function of Basophils?
Release histamine in inflammatory reactions
What is Leukocytosis?
Increase in WCC
What are the causes of a neutropenia?
Viral infection Severe sepsis Neutrophil antibodies (SLE) Bone marrow failure Hypersplenism Cytotoxic drugs
What are the causes of a neutrophilia?
Bacterial infection Inflammatory reactions Disseminated malignancy Stress Myeloproliferative conditions Corticosteroid therapies
What is agranulocytosis, and what drug causes it as a s/e?
Complete absence of circulating neutrophils
Carbimazole
What are the causes of a lymphopenia?
Bone marrow failure Corticosteroid therapies SLE Uraemia HIV infection Cytotoxic drugs
What are the causes of a lymphocytosis?
Viral infections
Chronic infections
Myeloproliferative conditions
What are leukaemias?
Malignant proliferations of blood forming cells
- acute/chronic
- myeloid/lymphoid
Describe the difference b/w myeloid/lymphoid cell lineages?
Haemopoietic stem cell –> common myeloid/lymphoid progenitor
- common myeloid –> erythrocytes, mast cells, megakaryocytes (form platelets), myeloblasts
- common lymphoid –> NK cells, T/B lymphocytes
What cell lines do myeloblasts go on to form?
Monocytes
Basophils
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
What are the myeloproliferative conditions?
Myelofibrosis
Myelodysplasia
Polycythaemia vera
PRE-LEUKAEMIC
What is Acute Lymhoblastic Luekaemia (ALL)?
Malignancy of lymphoid cells (T/B cells) leading to uncontrolled proliferation of immature blast cells
-eventual bone marrow failure & tissue infiltration
What is the aetiology of ALL?
Most common childhood malignancy
- 3-7yrs average age of dx
- 80% of childhood leukaemias
- rare in adults
- more common in certain syndromes (e.g. Downs)
What is the prognosis of ALL?
Children (<10yrs) = good, cure rates >80%
What are poor prognostic factors in ALL?
Older age of presentation Male sex B-cell disease Presence of Philadelphia chromosome -9:22 translocation
What is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)?
Malignancy of blast cells from marrow myeloid elements
What are the risk factors for AML?
Can be de novo OR Myeloproliferative conditions Previous chemo Ionising radiation Genetic syndromes
What is the aetiology of AML?
Median age of presentation at 65 yrs
- can occur at any age
- incidence increases w/ age
What is the prognosis of AML?
Rapidly progressive
20% 3yr survival after chemo
How do acute leukaemias present?
B sx
Bone pain
Sx of marrow failure
Hepatomegaly/splenomegaly
What are B sx?
Fatigue Wt loss Night sweats Fevers Pruritis
What are the sx of marrow failure?
Anaemia (SOB on exertion, weakness)
Leukopenia (recurrent infections)
Thrombocytopenia (bleeding & brusing)
What is important to remember about the leukopenia in acute leukaemias?
Pts have leukocytosis BUT immature cells so present as leukopenia
What investigations are appropriate in suspected acute leukaemia?
FBC Blood film CXR (T-cell ALL, ?mediastinal widening) Bone marrow aspiration PET scanning (?mets) U&Es, LFTs, cardiac function testing
What are the general principles of managing acute leukaemias?
Supportive care
Use of antibiotics
What supportive care should be given in acute leukaemia?
Nurse w/ full barrier nursing Hickman line inserted High-calorie diet Frequent blood/platelet transfusions Allopurinol (prevent tumour lysis syndrome) Frequent bloods/obs
When should antibiotics be given in acute leukaemia?
Temp >38o on 2 occassions >1hr apart
- assume sepsis
- start broad spectrum a/b until afebrile for 72 hrs
- often cephalosporin + gentamycin
What specific management steps are taken in ALL?
High dose chemo to induce remission -consolidation w/ high/med dose blocks over months -2 yrs maintenance therapy Consider marrow transplant -necessary if Philadelphia chromosome
What specific management steps are taken in AML?
Intensive chemo If poor prognosis -allogenic marrow transplant from HLA-matched siblings -allows further high dose chemo If intermediate prognosis -autologous marrow transplants -further, lower dose chemo
What is the aetiology of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)?
Rare in childhood
Most common 40-60yrs
Philadelphia Chr present in 95%
-better prognosis
What are the sx of CML?
Insidious B sx, detected by chance (30%) Gout (purine breakdown) Abdo discomfort (splenomegaly)
What are the signs of CML?
Splenomegaly
Hepatomegaly
Anaemia/thrombocytopenia
What investigations are appropriate in suspected CML?
FBC (WCC inc) Blood film (myeloid cells inc) Bone marrow biopsy CT/PET Cytogenic analysis of blood/marrow for Philadelphia Chr