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FBC Flashcards

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1
Q

What does haemoglobin (Hb) measure?

A

Amount of haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying protein) in whole blood

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2
Q

What is haematocrit (Hct)?

A

Percentage of the blood sample that is made up of red cells

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3
Q

Define mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

A

Average size of the red cells present in the blood sample

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4
Q

What does red cell distribution width (RDW) indicate?

A

Range from the largest red cell present to the smallest red cell present

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5
Q

What is red cell count (RCC)?

A

Number of red cells present per unit volume of blood

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6
Q

What does reticulocyte count measure?

A

Number of reticulocytes (immature red cells)

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7
Q

Define mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)

A

Amount of haemoglobin per red blood cell

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8
Q

What is mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)?

A

Average concentration of haemoglobin in a given volume of blood

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9
Q

What is white blood cell count (WCC)?

A

Number of white blood cells

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10
Q

What does white blood cell differential show?

A

Breakdown of the white blood cell count into different cells

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11
Q

What does platelet count measure?

A

Number of platelets

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12
Q

Define mean platelet volume (MPV)

A

Average size of platelets

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13
Q

What does platelet distribution width (PDW) measure?

A

Measures variability in platelet size

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14
Q

What does anaemia refer to?

A

Decrease in the total amount of haemoglobin in the blood

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15
Q

What are the subtypes of anaemia based on average red cell size?

A
  • Microcytic anaemia
  • Macrocytic anaemia
  • Normocytic anaemia
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16
Q

What characterizes polycythaemia?

A

Abnormally high haemoglobin concentration

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17
Q

What is absolute polycythaemia?

A

Increase in the number of red cells

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18
Q

What is relative polycythaemia?

A

Decrease in the amount of blood plasma

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19
Q

What causes primary polycythaemia?

A

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (e.g. polycythaemia rubra vera)

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20
Q

What are common causes of secondary polycythaemia?

A
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Smoking
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Cyanotic heart disease
  • Lung fibrosis
  • Certain malignancies
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21
Q

What is the acronym to remember causes of microcytic anaemia?

A

TAILS: Thalassemia, Anaemia of chronic disease, Iron deficiency, Lead poisoning, Sideroblastic anaemia

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22
Q

What are common causes of normocytic anaemia?

A
  • Anaemia of chronic disease
  • Acute blood loss
  • Increase plasma volume
  • Mixed aetiology anaemias
  • Aplastic anaemia
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23
Q

What are causes of macrocytic anaemia?

A
  • B12/folate deficiency
  • Toxins (e.g. alcohol)
  • Liver disease
  • Pregnancy
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24
Q

What does a raised haematocrit indicate?

A

Increased blood viscosity due to high number of red cells

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25
What does red cell distribution width (RDW) help assess?
Variability in red cell size in mixed anaemia
26
What does a raised reticulocyte count in anaemia imply?
Bone marrow is effectively producing new red blood cells
27
What does leukocytosis refer to?
High white blood cell count
28
What are common causes of acute leukocytosis?
* Infection * Inflammation * Post-surgery * Stress response
29
What does leukopenia refer to?
Low white cell count
30
What are common causes of leukopenia?
* Infection * Medications * B12/folate deficiency * Autoimmune disease
31
What is neutrophilia?
High neutrophil count
32
What is neutropenia?
Low neutrophil count
33
What is the significance of a low neutrophil count (<1.5)?
Higher infection risk
34
What is the management for febrile neutropenia?
Requires prompt treatment with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics
35
What is the neutrophil count threshold that indicates a higher infection risk?
<1.5
36
What is the medical emergency associated with neutropenic patients who are febrile?
Neutropenic sepsis or febrile neutropenia
37
What are the key functions of lymphocytes?
* Fight viral infections * Play roles in the immune system
38
What is lymphocytosis?
A raised lymphocyte count
39
What benign cause can lead to lymphocytosis?
Viral infection
40
Name one serious cause of lymphocytosis.
Haematological malignancy
41
List three causes of lymphopenia.
* Infection * Alcohol excess * HIV
42
What percentage of the total white cell count do monocytes make up?
About 4%
43
What roles do monocytes play in the immune system?
* Become macrophages or dendritic cells * Participate in phagocytosis * Engage in antigen presentation * Produce cytokines
44
What is monocytosis?
A high monocyte count
45
What is a common cause of monocytosis?
Bacterial infection
46
What is monocytopenia?
A low monocyte count
47
What are eosinophils key in responding to?
Helminth infections
48
What is eosinophilia?
A raised eosinophil count
49
List two causes of eosinophilia.
* Allergies/atopy * Parasitic infection
50
What do basophils contain that promotes inflammation?
Histamine and serotonin
51
What is basophilia?
An elevated basophil count
52
What could isolated basophilia indicate when present with other elevated white cell counts?
Myeloproliferative disorder
53
What are blasts?
Immature cells usually found in the bone marrow
54
What does a high number of blasts in circulation indicate?
Possible leukaemia
55
What is the function of platelets?
Initiate formation of a blood clot
56
What is thrombocytopenia?
A low platelet count
57
What are two clinical features of thrombocytopenia?
* Mucosal bleeding * Spontaneous bruising
58
Name one cause of acute thrombocytopenia.
Acute viral infection
59
What is thrombocytosis?
A raised platelet count
60
List three causes of thrombocytosis.
* Reactive: inflammation/infection * Myeloproliferative disorders * Iron deficiency

Haematology (2 decks)

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