Year 3: Haematology Flashcards
Everything you need to know to pass for Haematology in Dundee Medical School
Reduced amount of Hb in blood
Anaemia
Too much Hb in blood
Polycythaemia
Reduced platelets in blood
Thrombocytopenia
Too many platelets in blood
Thrombocytosis
Too much iron in blood
Haemochromatosis
Circulating iron
Transferrin
Stored iron
Ferritin (in the liver)
Functional iron
Hb
Haematocrit
% of Hb in blood
The production of cells derived from pluripotent stem cells
Haematopoiesis
The two lineages of a multipotential haematopoietic stem stell (Haemocyoblast)
Left: Common Myeloid Progenitor
Right: Common Lymphoid Progenitor
Extended lineage of the myeloid family
- Megakaryocyte
- Erythroblast
- Mast Cell
- Myeloblast
A megakaryocyte becomes
Thrombocytes (Platelets)
A myeloblast gives lineage to?
- Basophil
- Neutrophil
- Eosinophil
- Monocyte
An erythroblast gives rise to an
Erythrocyte (RBC)
A monocyte becomes
Macrophage
Extended lineage of the lymphoid family
- Natural Killer cell (NK)
- Small lymphocyte
A small lymphocyte becomes
- T cell lymphocyte
- B cell lymphocyte
A B cell lymphocyte becomes
Plasma cell
- Segmented nucleus
- Neutral staining granules
Neutrophil
- Bi-lobed nucleus
- Bright orange granules
Eosinophil
- Large deep purple granules (containing histamine)
- Associated with IgE
Basophil
- Single large nucleus
- Faintly staining granules
- Vacuolated
Monocyte
- Large nucleus
- Rim of cytoplasm
Lymphocyte
Neutrophils usually indicated
Bacterial infection
Lymphocytes usually indicate
Viral infection
Eosinophils usually indicate
- Allery/ Atopy
- Parasitic infection
Basophils can indicate
- Polycythaemia Rubra Vera
- Chronic myeloid Leukaemia
Granular leukocytes
WBC that contain granules
- Neutrophils
- Basophils
- Eosinophils
Agranular Leukocytes
WBC that contain a single nucleus and have few/no granules
- Monocytes
- Lymphocytes
The process of producing RBCs
Erythropoiesis
Haemoglobin is made out of
- Haem (porphyrin ring and Fe2+)
- Globins
Adult Haemoglobin: HbA
- 2 x Alpha chain globins
- 2 x beta chain globins
97% of Hb
Variant of adult haemoglobin: HbA2
- 2 x alpha chain globins
- 2 x delta chain globins
2.5% of Hb
Foetal haemoglobin: HbF
- 2 x alpha chain globins
- 2 x gamma chain globins
0.5% of Hb
However is very high in foetus and 1st year of life
Haemoglobin life span
120 days
Thrombocyte life span
7-10 days
Neutrophil life span
7-8 hours
Haematopoiesis in an embryo takes place in
- Yolk sac (until week 10)
- Liver (starts week 6)
- Bone Marrow (starts week 16)
Haematopoiesis at birth takes place in
- Bone marrow
- Liver
- Spleen
Haematopoiesis in an adult takes place in
Bone marrow of:
- Skull
- Ribs and sternum
- Pelvis
- Proximal femur
As you get older your bone marrow turns from red to
Yellow ( as it’s more fatty)
What anatomical landmark do you aim for when taking a bone marrow biopsy
Posterior Superior Iliac Spine
Describe how erythropoiesis begins
- Interstitial fibroblasts and the proximal tubule in the kidney sense hypoxia
- The kidneys produce erythropoietin (EPO)
- EPO then stimulates the bone marrow to produce more RBCs
- The increase in O2 levels in the blood causes EPO levels to drop
What is needed for erythropoiesis to take place
- Globins - from amino acids
- Haem - from iron stores
- B12
- Folate
Stimulation by EPO
What is the end cell produced in erythropoiesis
Reticulocyte (an immature RBC)
What is the maturation stages of a RBC
- Pronormoblast
- Early normoblast
- Intermediate normoblast
- Late normoblast
- Reticulocyte
- Erythrocyte
Hypersegmented nucleus in a neutrophil
(~7-9 segments)
This usually means macrocytic anaemia
(Due to an inefficient breakdown of cell)
An erythroblast contains
A nucleus
Reticulocytes contain
RNA
Hence why they are polychromatic
Reticulocytosis happens
In episodes of acute blood loss or haemolytic anaemia
The bone marrow produces RBCs rapidly, to compensate, hence why they are still immature reticulocytes
The destruction and breakdown of RBCs
Haemolysis
Site of haemolysis
Spleen
Describe Haemolysis
- RBCs are taken out of the circulation by macrophages and taken to the liver
- Iron is taken to iron stores (becoming ferritin)
- Porphyrin becomes unconjugated bilirubin and is taken to the liver to become conjugated
- Globulin chains are recycled into amino acids
During haemolysis, globulins are recycled as
Amino acids
During haemolysis, Fe2+ is
Recycled to iron stores
During haemolysis, the porphyrin ring is broken down into
bilirubin
Haemolysis causes
Haemolytic anaemia due to loss of RBC
Signs of haemolysis
- Spherocytes in blood film
- Reticulocytes
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
Two types of haemolytic anaemia
- Extravascular
- Intravascular
Extravascular haemolysis
happens in the liver and spleen by macrophages
Intravascular haemolysis
happens in the circulation
Examples of Extravascular haemolysis
- Liver disease
- Hypersplenism
Signs of extravascular disease
Bilirubinuria (dark yellow urine)
Examples of intravascular haemolysis
- HBO transfusion reaction
- G6PD deficiency
- Malaria
- Prosthetic valve
- Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
- Autoimmune Haemolytic anaemia
Signs of intravascular haemolysis
Haemoglobinuria
“Pink urine, black on standing”
2 types of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Warm
- Cold
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is a
Delayed reaction
Cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is an
Immediate reaction
IgG is involved in
Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
IgM is involved in
Cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Causes of Warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Autoimmune disorders (SLE)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
- Infections
- Drugs (penicillin)
Causes of cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Infections (EBV, mycoplasma)
Direct Coomb’s Test
Detects antibodies on the RBC surface
Is used to narrow down the cause of haemolysis
Positive Direct Coomb’s Test
- Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Drug-induced haemolytic anaemia
- Haemolytic disease of the newborn
Heinz bodies indicate
G6PD Deficiency Haemolytic Anaemia
Pathophysiology of G6PD deficiency
a defect in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase causes red blood cells to break down prematurely
Pathophysiology of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria
Your body thinks your blood is foreign and so it destroys it
Symptom of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria
Peeing blood
Polycythaemia Rubra Vera
A myeloproliferative neoplasm which causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells
Polycythaemia RV is usually due to a default in
JAK 2 gene
Polycythaemia RV presents with
- Itch (after hot bath)
- Patient looks red
- DVT
- Splenomegaly
- Gout
- Headache
Treatment for Polycythaemia RV
- Hydroxycarbamide (marrow suppression)
- Venesection
Presentation of haemochromatosis
- Liver disease
- Heart problems
- Bronzing of the skin
- Diabetes (iron deposition kills islet cells)
- Arthritis
Types of Haemochromatosis
- Primary
- Secondary
Primary Haemochromatosis
Inherited
(decreased hepcidin, so the channels for iron release in the gut open more often, so iron is in serum)
- High Transferrin (>50%)
- High Ferritin (>200 (F), >300 (M))
Gradual increase, and so present in their 40s
Causes end-organ damage
Secondary Haemochromatosis
More acute
Too many blood transfusions (so iron overload)
Iron in cells can be detected by
Perl Staining Prussian Blue
Treatment for Primary haemochromatosis
Weekly Venesection in aim of exhausting iron stores
Treatment of Secondary Haemochromatosis
Desferrioxamine (Iron-chelating drugs)
Erythropoiesis
The production of RBCs
Mechanism of Erythropoiesis
- Hypoxia is sensed by the proximal tubule in the kidneys
- Kidneys produce erythropoietin
- Erythropoietin stimulates RBC production in the bone marrow
Role of folate
- Converts uridine to thymidine
- Needed for DNA synthesis
Daily requirement of Folate
Adult: 200 micrograms
Pregnant Women: 400 micrograms
Diabetic Pregnant Women: 5mg
Body store of Folate
4 months
Folate absorption takes place in
Duodenum and jejunum
“Coz DJs stay up fo-late playing music”
Folate deficiency is often seen in
Malnourished (e.g. alcoholics)
Role of B12
Is needed to make DNA, RNA, proteins due to S-adenosylmethionine synthesis
Daily requirement of B12
1.5 micrograms
B12 body stores last
2-4 years
B12 absorption takes place in
Ileum
“Because vegans lack B12 and they are ill”
Symptoms of B12 deficiency
- Sore tongue “glossitis”
- Neurological problems as B12 is associated with myelin development
Don’t prescribe folate without
B12 (in healthy people) as it will cause spinal cord problems (due to myelin interaction)
Iron absorption is regulated by
Hepcidin
Inhibits iron transport, and so regulates iron
- High hepcidin: iron accumulated
- Low hepcidin: iron exported
Iron absorption takes place in
Duodenum
“Because you need to iron your denum jeans”
Daily requirement of Iron
- Men: 8.7mg
- Women: 14.8mg
Chronic disease and inflammation causes
Increased hepcidin (due to IL6 and macrophages)
Which causes:
- Decrease in iron absorption release, and this leads to microcytic anaemia
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase “G6PD” pathway is responsible for getting rid of
H2O2 free radicals
Converts NADP+ to NADPH
What converts Fe3+ to Fe2+
NADH
Microcytic anaemia
- Low Hb
- Low MCV (size of RBC)
Hypochromic RBCs
Causes of microcytic anaemia
- Iron related: GI bleed, Period related, Chronic disease
- Porphyria related: lead poisoning
- Globulin synthesis: Thalassaemia
Chromosome associated with Alpha Thalassaemias
16
Chromosome associated with Beta Thalassaemias
11
2 types of thalassaemia
- Alpha
- Beta
Types of Alpha thalassaemias
- a+/a (3 alpha globulin)
- a0/a+ (1 alpha globulin) = HbH (3/4 betas)
- a0/a0 (0 alpha globulin) = Major: Hb Barts (4 gammas)
HbH presentation
- Jaundiced
- Splenomegaly
- “Golf ball occlusions” on blood film
- Common in South East Asians
Presentation of Alpha thalassaemia major (Hb Barts)
- Barts Hydrops Fetalis
- Usually always stillborn
- Oedema and hypoxic tissues
2 types of Beta thalassaemias
- Trait (b+/b) or (b0/b) = 3 or 2 betas
- Major (b0/b+) or (b0/b0) = 1 or 0 betas
Beta Thalassaemia Trait
- Increased HbA2
As 2 alpha, 2 delta chains involved
Beta Thalassaemia Major
- HbA2 or HbF
- Presents 6-24 months (due to loss of HbF), failure to thrive
- Extramedullary haematopoiesis (large head, spinal cord compression)