Abnormal White Blood Cell Count Flashcards
(44 cards)
What is the lymphoid lineage?
Lymphoid cells are lymphocytes = T cells, B cells + NK cells
Which 7 cells come under the myeloid lineage?
Erythrocytes Neutrophils Basophils Eosinophils Monocytes Megakaryocytes Dendritic Cells
Describe how the appearance of white cells changes as they develop.
They become smaller + their cytoplasm becomes clearer.
Which factors stimulate the following cell lines:
a. Lymphoid
b. Myeloid
c. Erythroid
Lymphoid: IL-2
Myeloid: G-CSF, M-CSF
Erythroid: Erythropoietin
Define Leukaemia.
A malignant progressive disease in which BM + other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes.
Leads to suppression of production of other blood cells (erythrocytes + platelets.)
Define Lymphoma.
A group of blood cell tumours that develop from lymphatic cells.
If the disease is mainly in the lymphatic tissue then it is lymphoma.
If mainly in the blood it is leukaemia.
Define Myeloma.
A malignant disease of the BM characterised by >2 of the following criteria:
Excess of abnormal plasma cells in the BM
Typical lytic deposits in the bones on X-ray, giving the appearance of holes
Presence in the serum of abnormal gammaglobulin, usually IgG
Broadly speaking, what can cause an increase in white blood cell count?
Increased white blood cell production
Increased white blood cell survival
What 2 types of disease cause increased white cell production resulting in increased white blood cell count?
Reactive: Infection, inflammation
Malignant: Leukaemia, Myeloproliferative disease
What is the difference in the type of white blood cell seen in the peripheral blood of someone with an infection/inflammation (reactive) and someone with a malignancy?
Reactive: only mature WBC’s
Malignant: mature + immature white blood cells present
Where does the mutation occur in chronic myeloid leukaemia?
GM-CFC phase
If there are only immature cells in the blood film with low Hb and low platelets, what would you suspect?
Acute leukaemia
What can cause an elevated lymphocyte count?
Viral infections
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
What is the lifespan of a neutrophil?
Hours in peripheral blood
2-3 days in the tissues
What is margination of neutrophils?
~50% of neutrophils in the circulation have marginated meaning that they have stuck to the wall of a damaged vessel (NOT counted in FBC)
Describe the differences in the appearance of neutrophils in infection compared to leukaemia.
Infection: show toxic granulation + vacuoles
Leukaemia: no granules + don’t look toxic. Neutrophils at different stages of maturation, presence of band cells
What would be present in the blood film of someone with leukaemia that would not be present in someone with an infection?
Myeloid precursors
Clonage results in abnormality of 1 particular type of cell e.g. lymphocytes
State 5 causes of neutrophilia.
Infection
Inflammation
Physical stress, adrenaline, corticosteroids
Underlying neoplasia
Malignant neutrophilia: myeloproliferative disorders + CML
What types of infection cause neutrophilia?
Bacterial
Fungal
Certain viral infections
State 3 infections that characteristically do NOT produce neutrophilia.
Brucella
Typhoid
Many viral infections
State 4 reactive causes of eosinophilia.
Parasitic infestation
Allergic diseases e.g. asthma
Neoplasms e.g. Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s Hypereosinophilic syndrome
State a malignant cause of eosinophilia.
Malignant chronic eosinophilic leukaemia
What would you see in the chest X-ray of someone with Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Increased mediastinal mass
What can cause monocytosis?
RARE but it is seen in certain chronic infections + primary haematological disorders TB, brucella, typhoid Viral: CMV, varicella zoster Sarcoidosis Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (MDS)
