HAEMATOLOGY Flashcards
(128 cards)
ANAEMIA
what are the causes of normoblastic macrocytic anaemia?
- alcohol
- reticulocytosis (haemolytic anaemia or blood loss)
- hypothyroidism
- liver disease
- drugs (e.g. azathioprine)
B12 DEFICIENCY
what are the causes?
- autoimmune = pernicious anaemia (anti-parietal cell antibodies damage parietal cells + stop intrinsic factor)
- malabsorption = coeliac disease, crohns disease, terminal ileum resection
- malnutrition = lack of meat, poultry, milk + eggs
- medications = PPIs, colchicine, metformin
B12 DEFICIENCY
which medications can cause B12 deficiency anaemia?
- PPIs
- colchicine
- metformin
B12 DEFICIENCY
what are the clinical features that are unique to B12 deficiency anaemia?
SUBACUTE COMBINED DEGENERATION OF THE SPINAL CORD
- dorsal columns = sensory, vibration + proprioception loss
- lateral corticospinal tracts = UMN signs e.g. spastic paraparesis, brisk knee jerk + upgoing plantar
- spinocerebellar tract = ataxia
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
- absent ankle jerk reflex
OPTIC NEUROPATHY
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
HYPOSPLENISM
what are the functions of the spleen?
- activation of lymphocytes
- removal of damaged/effete RBCs from circulation
- sequestration of platelets for release during times of stress
- site of haematopoiesis in utero
HYPOSPLENISM
what are the causes of functional hyposplenism?
- coeliac disease
- IBD
- haematological malignancies (leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloproliferative disorders)
- alcoholic liver disease (due to portal hypertension)
- chronic graft-vs-host disease (secondary to bone marrow transplant)
HYPOSPLENISM
what is the management?
IMMUNISATION
- vaccination to n.meningitidis, h.influenzae + s.pneumoniae
- annual flu vaccine
PROPHYLACTIC ANTIBIOTICS
- oral penicillins/macrolides if at high risk of pneumococcal infections
PATIENT EDUCATION
- comply with prophylactic measures
- wear medical bracelet
- avoid travel to malaria-endemic regions
- seek prompt medical attention if they develop signs/symptoms of infection
AML
what are the risk factors?
- increasing age
- myelodysplastic syndromes
- myeloproliferative neoplasms
- previous chemotherapy or radiation exposure
- benzene (painters, petroleum + rubber manufacturers)
CLL
what are the complications?
- hypogammaglobinaemia
- warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Richter transformation (into non-hodgkins lymphoma)
CML
which chromosome is present in 95% of patients with CML?
Philadelphia chromosome
forms a fusion gene BCR/ABL on chromosome 22 – has tyrosine kinase activity – simulate cell division
CML
what are the investigations?
BLOODS
- FBC = leukocytosis, granulocytosis + anaemia (thrombocytosis seen in 30% of patients)
- blood film = increase is all stages of maturing granulocytes
- bone marrow biopsy = myeloblast infiltration
- cytogenic + molecular studies = PHILADELPHIA CHROMOSOME
CML
what is the management?
- tyrosine kinase inhibitor (imatinib)
- chemotherapy
- stem cell transplant if above fails
CML
why does the philadelphia chromosome cause CML?
Froms fusion gene BCR/ABL on chromosome 22 –> tyrosine kinase activity –> stimulates cell division
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
what are the risk factors?
- EBV infection
- HIV
- autoimmune conditions (rheumatoid arthritis + sarcoidosis)
- family history
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
how is it staged?
ANN ARBOR STAGING
1 = single lymph node region
2 = 2 or more lymph node regions on same side of diaphragm
3 = lymph node involvement on both sides of diaphragm
4 = involvement of one or more extralymphatic organs
HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
what is the management?
- chemotherapy (ABVD)
- radiotherapy
- rituximab
NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
what are the risk factors?
- HIV
- EBV
- h-pylori infection (associated with MALT lymphoma)
- Hep B + hep C infection
- exposure to pesticides
- exposure to trichloroethylene
- family history
NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
what is the management?
depends on type + stage
may involve:
- watchful waiting
- chemotherapy (R-CHOP)
- monoclonal antibodies (rituximab)
- radiotherapy
- stem cell transplant
NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA
how is it staged?
Lugano classification
1 = confined to 1 node or group of nodes
2 = in more than one group of nodes on same side of diaphragm
3 = affects lymph nodes on both sides of diaphragm
4 = widespread involvement, including non-lymphatic organs such as the liver or lungs
DIC
what are the investigations?
FBC - thrombocytopaenia, anaemia + leukocytosis
Clotting studies - prolonged PT + APTT
Fibrinogen levels - decreased
D-dimer - raised
Blood cultures - identify cause
Blood film - schistocytes
HAEMOPHILIA
how is it inherited?
X-linked recessive - therefore primarily affects males
Haemophilia A = factor VIII deficiency
Haemophilia B = factor IX deficiency
HAEMOPHILIA
what are the investigations?
- aPTT - prolonged
- plasma factor VIII and IX levels - decreased or absent
- mixing study
- FBC - to rule out thrombocytopaenia
- plasma von willebrand factor
LFTs - to exclude liver disease
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
what are the investigations?
- urine electrophoresis = BENCE-JONES PROTEIN
- serum electrophoresis = monoclonal paraprotein band
- bone marrow aspirate + biopsy (required for diagnosis)
- FBC + blood film = anaemia, Rouleux formation (aggregation of RBCs)
- U&Es (renal failure)
- bone profile = hypercalcaemia + raised ALP
- imaging = MRI (1st line) or CT (2nd line)
- x-ray
MULTIPLE MYELOMA
what are the main clinical signs?
old CRAB
- old = >75
- hypercalcaemia
- renal failure
- anaemia
- bone lesions