Haematology Flashcards
(155 cards)
What does serum contain?
Glucose, Electrolytes, proteins e.g. antibodies and hormones
What do red blood cells develop from?
reticulocytes which originate from myeloid stem cells
What are platelets made by?
megakaryocytes which develop from myeloid stem cells
What is the normal platelet count?
150-450 x10^9/L
Myeloid stem cells become myeloblasts, which can then become what?
Monocytes then macrophages
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Mast cells
Basophils
What is Anisocytosis and what condition can it be seen in?
Variation in size of red blood cells
can be seen in myelodysplastic syndrome and many types of anaemia
What are Target cells and what conditions can they be seen in?
red blood cells with a central pigmented area surrounded by a pale area, surrounded by a ring of thicker cytoplasm on the outside. They look like a bull’s eye target.
These are mostly seen in iron deficiency anaemia and post-splenectomy
What are Heinz bodies and what conditions are they seen in?
individual blobs (inclusions) seen inside red blood cells. These blobs are denatured (damaged) haemoglobin.
They are mostly seen in G6PD deficiency and alpha-thalassaemia.
What are Howell-Jolly bodies and what conditions are they seen in?
blobs of DNA material seen inside red blood cells
seen after splenectomy , sickle cells and severe anaemia
In what condition would you see a high number of reticulocytes on blood film?
haemolytic anaemia
What are smudge cells and what condition are they seen in?
ruptured white blood cells that occur while preparing the blood film when the cells are aged or fragile.
They are particularly associated with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
What are spherocytes and what conditions are they seen in?
sphere-shaped red blood cells without the bi-concave disk shape.
They can indicate autoimmune haemolytic anaemia or hereditary spherocytosis.
State 4 causes of microcytic anaemia
T – Thalassaemia
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
I – Iron deficiency anaemia
L – Lead poisoning
S – Sideroblastic anaemia
state 5 causes of normocytic anaemia?
A – Acute blood loss
A – Anaemia of chronic disease
A – Aplastic anaemia
H – Haemolytic anaemia
H – Hypothyroidism
state 2 causes of macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia
B12 deficiency
Folate deficiency
State 3 causes of normoblastic macrocytic anaemia
Alcohol
Reticulocytosis (usually from haemolytic anaemia or blood loss)
Hypothyroidism
Liver disease
Drugs, such as azathioprine
What are some generic symptoms of anaemia?
Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Headaches
Dizziness
Palpitations
Worsening of other conditions, such as angina, heart failure or peripheral arterial disease
State 2 symptoms specific to iron deficiency anaemia
Pica
Hair loss
State 3 generic signs of anaemia
Pale skin
Conjunctival pallor
Tachycardia
Raised respiratory rate
State 4 signs specific to iron deficiency anaemia
Koilonychia
Angular cheilitis
Atrophic glossitis
brittle hair and nails
What is a key sign of haemolytic anaemia ?
Jaundice
What blood tests would you do in someone with anaemia of unknown cause?
Full blood count for haemoglobin and mean cell volume
Reticulocyte count
Blood film
Renal profile
Liver function bilirubin (raised in haemolysis)
Ferritin (iron)
B12 and folate
Intrinsic factor antibodies for pernicious anaemia
Thyroid function tests
Coeliac disease serology
Myeloma screening (e.g., serum protein electrophoresis)
Haemoglobin electrophoresis for thalassaemia and sickle cell disease
Direct Coombs test for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
What type of anaemia does iron deficiency cause?
microcytic hypochromic anaemia
State 4 causes of iron deficiency anaemia
Insufficient dietary iron (e.g., restrictive diets)
Reduced iron absorption (e.g., coeliac disease)
Increased iron requirements (e.g., pregnancy)
Loss of iron through bleeding (e.g., from a peptic ulcer or bowel cancer)