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Flashcards in Heme/Onc1 Deck (56)
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1
Q

Pyruvate kinase deficiency

A

autosomal recessive defect in pyruvate kinase –> decrease in ATP –> rigid RBCs

2
Q

Classic findings in pyruvate kinase deficiency.

A

A neonate with an enlarged spleen and severe anemia

(splenic macrophages are consuming the RBCs, leading both to the anemia, and the large spleen.

3
Q

What type of hemolytic anemia is pyrivate kinase deficiency (extravascular or intravascular)?

A

extravascular

4
Q

What type of hemolytic anemia (extravascular or intravascular) is G6PD deficiency?

A

extravascular

5
Q

Let’s say you are presented with an african american male patient who develops shortness of breath during a plane ride. Why might you suspect?

A

We would put sickle cell trait/disease on the differential. An airplane ride–or any activity at low pO2, can cause precipitation of the sickle hemoglobin (HbS), which results in anemia and vaso-occlusive disease.

6
Q

What is the pathogenesis/risk factors for sickle cell anemia exacerbation?

A

(1) low pO2
(2) dehydration
(3) acidosis

The above three precipitate sickling (deoxygenated hemoglobin polymerizes), which results in anemia and vaso-occlusive disease.

7
Q

Why has the sickle cell allele persisted in the population?

A

Because heterozygotes (sickle cell trait) have resistance to malaria

8
Q

Why are newborns with sickle cell anemia initially asymptomatic?

A

Because the sickle allele is a variant of beta globin. When babies are born, initially HbF (which contains alpha and gamma globin units) is high, and HbS (which contains the alpha and sickle [beta] globin chains) is low

9
Q

What is sickle cell anemia? (brief definition relating to genetics)

A

HbS is due to a single point mutation that results in a single amino acid substitution in the beta chain of hemoglobin (glutamic acid with valine at position 6)

10
Q

What would we see on radiographic image in sickle cell anemia?

A

A “crew-cut” appearance on skull X-ray due to bone marrow expansion from increased erythropoiesis

(this is also seen in thalassemias)

11
Q

How is sickle cell anemia diagnosed?

A

hemoglobin electrophoresis

12
Q

What is the treatment for sickle cell anemia?

A
  • -hydroxyurea (which increased the production of fetal hemoglobin)
  • -bone marrow transplant
13
Q

What is the function of heparin/how does it work?

A

Heparin is an anticoagulant that accelerates the activity of antithrombin III, thereby inactivating thrombin

14
Q

What laboratory study is used to monitor the effect of heparin?

A

PTT (partial thromboplastin time)

15
Q

Why is it important to monitor heparin with PTT?

A

You do not want the PTT (aPTT - activated PTT) to exceed 1.5-2 times the control value, because the risk for internal bleeding can increase substantially

16
Q

Factor I

A

fibrinogen

17
Q

Factor II

A

prothrombin

18
Q

What measures would be used to measure the effect of warfarin?

A

PT or INR –both measure the extrinsic pathway (and common pathway) of the coagulation cascade

19
Q

What is the most common inherited coagulation disorder?

A

vW Disease

20
Q

How does vW Disease typically present?

A

with mild skin and mucosal bleeding.

vWF is essential for platelet adhesion in primary hemostasis

21
Q

Why does vW Disease present with a prolonged PTT?

A

This is because vWF binds to circulating Factor VIII and protects it from degradation

22
Q

How do you treat vW Disease?

A

with Desmopressin , an ADH analog, which increases the release of vWF from Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells.

23
Q

What is the function of fibronectin?

A

fibronectin is a serum protein that acts as an opsonin for phagocytic cells in clots. Fibronectin binds non-specifically to bacteria and other materials in the newly-formed clots and draws the cell membranes of phagocytes into close contact with these substances.

24
Q

Patient with:

  • -skin and mucosal bleeing (gums bleed after vigorous brushing of teeth; hematoma develops at IV injection site)
  • -normal platelet count
  • -normal PT
  • -prolonged PTT
  • -increased bleeding time

What is the likely diagnosis?

A

von Willebrand Disease

25
Q

normal RBC count

A

male: 4.5-5.5 million/mcl
female: 4-5 million/mcl

26
Q

normal Hb

A

male: 13.5-17.5
female: 12.0-15.5

27
Q

normal Hct

A

male: 40-50
female: 35-45

28
Q

normal WBC

A

3500-10,500

29
Q

normal platelets

A

150,000-450,000

30
Q

how can you differentiate reticulocytes from RBCs in blood smear?

A

reticulocytes appear as slightly larger cells with blueish cytoplasm (due to residual RNA)

31
Q

What is a normal reticulocyte count?

A

1-2% of total RBCs

32
Q

What would be the reticulocyte response be to anemia if you have a properly functioning bone marrow?

A

the reticulocyte count would increase to >3%

33
Q

Why would a reticulocyte count be falsely elevated in anemia?

A

The reticulocyte count is calculated as a percentage of total RBCs. A decrease in the total number of RBCs (as would be seen in anemia) would falsely elevate the precentage of reticulocytes

34
Q

How do you correct the reticulocyte count?

A

by multiplying the reticulocyte count by Hct/45

35
Q

What does a corrected reticulocyte count of >3% indicate?

A

This indicates a good marrow response and suggests peripheral destruction

36
Q

What does a corrected reticulocyte count of <3% indicate?

A

This indicates a poor marrow response and suggests underproduction (i.e., a problem with the bone marrow)

37
Q

What is meant by extravascular hemolysis (RBC destruction)/what does it involve?

A

extravascular hemolysis involves RBC destruction by the reticuloendothelial system (macrophages of the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes)

38
Q

What are the breakdown products of hemoglobin?

A

(1) globin is broken down into amino acids
(2) heme is broken down into iron and protoporphyrin; iron is recycled
(3) protoporphyrin is broken down to unconjugated bilirubin, which is bound to serum albumin and delivered to the liver for conjugation and excretion into bile

39
Q

What are the clinical and lab findings of extravascular hemolysis?

A
  • -Anemia with splenomegaly
  • -jaundice due to unconjugated bilirubin
  • -increased risk for bilirubin gallstones
  • -marrow hyperplasia with corrected reticulocyte count >3%
40
Q

Why is unconjugated bilirubin (from the breakdown of hemoglobin and protoporphyrin, for instance) bound to serum albumin?

A

because unconjugated bilirubin is fat soluble. It will remain in the serum bound to albumin until the liver can take it, conjugate it, and then secrete it into the bile

41
Q

What is meant by intravascular hemolysis (RBC destruction)/what does it involve?

A

intravascular hemolysis involves destruction of RBCs within vessels

42
Q

What are the clinical and lab findings of intravascular hemolysis?

A
Early change: decreased serum haptoglobin
Next, during period of hemolysis:
        --hemoglobinemia
        --hemoglobinuria
Days later: hemosiderinuria
43
Q

Why do we see a decrease in serum haptoglobin early in intravascular hemolysis?

A

.

44
Q

Why do we see hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria in intravascular hemolysis?

A

.

45
Q

Why do we see hemosiderinuria days later in intravascular hemolysis?

A

.

46
Q

What is aplastic anemia?

A

Damage to hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in a pancytopenia (anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia) with low corrected reticulocyte count

47
Q

What is a classic lab finding of aplastic anemia?

A

A hypcellular, fatty bone marrow.

(hypocellularity of all cell lines to <25% of normal, normal cell architecture, and a predominance of fate and marrow stroma)

48
Q

What are the classes of etiologies of aplastic anemia?

A
  • -drugs
  • -chemicals/environmental toxins
  • -autoimmune
  • -viral infections
49
Q

What viral infections are associated with/linked to development of aplastic anemia?

A
  • -cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • -parvovirus
  • -hepatitis
50
Q

What chemicals/environmental toxins are associated with/linked to development of aplastic anemia?

A
  • -benzene
  • -insecticides
  • -gold
51
Q

What drugs are associated with/linked to development of aplastic anemia?

A
  • -busulfan
  • -vinblastine
  • -chloramphenicol
  • -anticonvulsant drugs (carbamazepine, phenytoin)
  • -phenylbutazone
52
Q

How do you treat aplastic anemia?

A
  • -discontinuation of causative drugs
  • -immunosuppressive medications (corticosteroids, cyclosporine, immune globulin)
  • -bone marrow transplant
  • -supportive care with transfusions and marrow-stimulating factors (GM-CSF, EPO, G-CSF)
53
Q

What are ringed sideroblasts on Prussion blue stain characteristic of?

A

Siderblastic anemia

54
Q

What would we see on bone marrow biopsy in multiple myeloma?

A

sheets of abnormal plasma cells

55
Q

How does Parvovirus B19 affect hematopoiesis?

A

Parvovirus B19 can infect progenitor red cells and temporarily halt erythropoiesis, resulting in a pure red-cell aplasia.

This leads to significant anemia in the setting of preexisting marrow stress (e.g., sickle cell anemia and hereditary spherocytosis)

56
Q

Why would we see a red-cell aplasia (anemia) following parvovirus b19 infection in someone with sickle cell anemia, but not in a healthy individual?

A

This is because a healthy individual has reserve capacity (of RBCs) However, a patient who is highly dependent on their reserve (such as a patient with sickle cell) would show signs even with a minimal knock-down of their production of RBCs