Lecture 10 Blood Disorders Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is Polycythemia?
An abnormal increase in red blood cells.
What is Primary Polycythemia?
A neoplastic disorder caused by a mutation in bone marrow progenitor cells, leading to increased erythropoiesis (e.g., polycythemia vera with JAK2 mutations).
What is Secondary Polycythemia?
An increase in red blood cells as a compensatory response to prolonged hypoxia (e.g., high altitude, chronic pulmonary disease) or due to tumors secreting EPO inappropriately.
What is Relative Polycythemia?
Dehydration causes a relative increase in red blood cell concentration.
List some signs and symptoms of Polycythemia.
Distended blood vessels, reddened skin, mucosal hemorrhage, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, dyspnea, headache, visual disturbances, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, thromboses, and infarctions.
How is Polycythemia diagnosed?
CBC (elevated HGB and HCT), bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, pulse oximetry, and serum EPO (to distinguish primary from secondary disease).
How is Polycythemia treated?
Treat underlying cause (e.g., replenish fluids, oxygen), periodic phlebotomy, low-dose aspirin, cytotoxic drugs, or radiation to suppress bone marrow activity.
What are the main types of Leukocytes (WBCs)?
Neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes.
What is the primary function of Leukocytes?
To defend tissues against infections and foreign substances.
Name the Granulocytes and their key functions.
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Neutrophils: Key phagocytes, first responders during inflammation.
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Eosinophils: Increase during parasitic infection, allergic reaction, or cancer.
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Basophils: Release histamine and heparin during inflammatory reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, allergy, asthma).
Name the Agranulocytes and their key functions.
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Monocytes: Differentiate into macrophages (phagocytes).
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Lymphocytes: Provide protection through adaptive immunity
What are the three main categories of WBC disorders?
Qualitative disorders (defects in cellular function), Quantitative disorders (increase or decrease in cell numbers), and Neoplastic alterations (mutations in genes controlling growth/proliferation).
Define Leukocytosis and provide some etiologies.
An increase in total WBC count (> 10,000 / µL). It is a normal protective physiological response to stressors like acute infection, emotional stress, intense exercise, hemorrhage, leukemia, malignancies, menstruation, and pregnancy/labour.
Define Leukopenia and provide some etiologies.
A decrease in total WBC count (< 4,000 / µL). It predisposes a patient to infections. Etiologies include alcoholism, viral infections, drugs/toxins that suppress bone marrow, fever, severe electric shock, tissue necrosis, and trauma/tissue injury.
What is Neutrophilia (granulocytosis) and when does it occur?
An increase in blood neutrophils. It occurs during the first stages of infection (especially bacterial), inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis), and during stress/exercise (cortisol and adrenaline cause neutrophils to enter the bloodstream).
What is a “left shift” in the context of Neutrophilia?
It’s detected by a WBC differential when immature neutrophils (band neutrophils) are prematurely released into the blood because the need for neutrophils exceeds the supply.
What is Neutropenia and what risk does it pose?
A reduction of circulating neutrophils. It increases the risk for bacterial and fungal infections.
List some etiologies of Neutropenia.
Congenital factors, complications of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs, and immune destruction of neutrophils.
What is Monocytosis?
An increase in the number of circulating monocytes, often occurring during chronic inflammation. Monocytes differentiate into macrophages, which phagocytize pathogens and debris.
What is Monocytopenia and what are some etiologies?
A decrease in the number of circulating monocytes. Etiologies include glucocorticoid treatment, aplastic anemia, various leukemias, myelotoxic drugs, and genetic syndromes.
What is Lymphocytosis and what are some etiologies?
An increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. Etiologies include acute infections (especially viral), leukemias and lymphomas, splenectomy, and smoking.
What is Lymphocytopenia and what risk does it pose?
A decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. Individuals are at greater risk of infection.
List some etiologies of Lymphocytopenia.
Congenital immune deficiencies, autoimmune disorders (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus), destruction by drugs (e.g., cytotoxic drugs, corticosteroids) or radiation, viral destruction (e.g., HIV, influenza), and stress.
What is Infectious Mononucleosis also known as, and what is its primary cause and transmission method?
Also known as glandular fever or mono. It is commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV - 85% of cases) and transmitted by saliva through personal contact.
