ALPHA
Anaemia
Disease Iron TIBC Ferritin Iron deficiency \(\downarrow\) \(\uparrow\) \(\downarrow\) …
Continue readingBlood transfusion
Red Blood Cells 1 unit raises Hb by 10g/L and contains 200-250 mg of iron 10-20ml/kg recipient Stored at 4°C for up to 35 days Pla…
Continue readingTransfusion complications
Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions Due to cytokines or other biologically active molecules that accumlate during storage of blood com…
Continue readingAcute myeloid leukaemia
Accumulation and proliferation of immature myeloid cells Median presenting age 69 Features of bone marrow failure (anaemia, severe opportunis…
Continue readingMyelodysplastic syndromes
Similar to AML with ineffective haematopoiesis Low risk only treat if symptomatic, high risk treat like AML
Continue readingAcute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Rapid growth and accumulation of immature lymphocytes Most common type of leukaemia in children Similar symptoms to AML Treatment philos…
Continue readingChronic myeloid leukaemia
Chronic phase Accelerated phase Blast phase Slow growing cancer of mature myeloid cells which don't function properly Mai…
Continue readingChronic lymphoblastic leukaemia
Excessive proliferation of mature B cells Most common leukaemia Associated with autoimmune conditions
Continue readingMultiple myeloma
Plasma cell proliferation usually in older people - incurable but very treatable CRAB diagnostic criteria: Calcium ↑ - increased osteocl…
Continue readingLymphoma
B or T cell usually solid malignancy in a lymph node B symptoms Fever Weight loss Night sweats Hodgkin's lymphoma Presenc…
Continue readingVon Willebrand Disease
Most common heritable bleeding disorder - defect in quality or quantity of vWF. Each type or more severe Type 1 - quantitative defect, autosomal domi…
Continue readingThe Hemophilias
X linked disorders so typically expressed in males, carried by females (but can show some symptoms rarely) Severity is consistent between family…
Continue readingSickle Cell Trait
Normal blood count Hb Electrophoresis: Hb-S 45%, Hb-A 55% Clinical picture - only issues in times of stress for body eg hypoxia/dehydration …
Continue readingSickle Cell Disease
Anaemic, Hb-S >95% Hb-A 0% Clinical - vaso-occlusive crisis Acute - septicaemia, aplastic crisis, sequestration crisis Chronic - hypo…
Continue readingThalassaemia
Change in globin gene expression leads to reduced rate of synthesis of normal globin chains. Pathology due to excess of unaffected chain in blood. …
Continue readingHaematological changes in pregnancy
Plasma volume \(\uparrow\) 50%, RBC \(\uparrow\) 25%, so dilutation occurs, maximally at 32 weeks. Increases folic acid requirements Leukocyto…
Continue readingNeonate Haematology
Where is blood made in utero Day 18 to 3m in yolk sac 3m to 6m liver and spleen 6m onward bone marrow Haemoglobin: \(\alpha^2\) + \…
Continue readingAcquired bleeding disorders
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Excess clotting uses up all clotting factors which leads to excessive bleeding. Microvascular thrombosis $\…
Continue readingAnticoagulants
Heparin Increases the ability of antithrombin molecule to irreversibly inhibit thrombin, IXa, Xa, XIa. LMWH - mainly inhibits FXa only, less mo…
Continue readingAnti-platelets
Aspirin Inactivates platelet cyclooxygenase reducing thromboxane A2. Irreversible effect 4-5 days P2Y\(_{12}\) antagonist Prevent pl…
Continue readingThrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Type of microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, antibodies against ADAMTS13 enzyme. So vWF cannot be broken down leading to many clots aquired f…
Continue readingSickle Cell Crisis
The main aspects of managing sickle cell crisis are giving oxygen, analgesia e.g. opiates, and IV fluids.. Oxygen helps to counteract the defici…
Continue readingAtopic individuals
People with a genetic predisposition to develop allergic conditions. Triad of: Asthma Eczema Food allergies
Continue readingDifferentiating features of leukaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common leukaemia in children and associated with Down syndrome Chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia is…
Continue readingAverage blood glucose vs HbA1C
HbA1c depends on average blood glucose concentration and red blood cell (RBC) lifespan. Sickle-cell anaemia and other haemoglobinopathies such as her…
Continue readingB12/folate deficiency
Always treat B12 deficiency first - giving patients folic acid when they have a B12 deficiency can lead to subacute combined degeneration o…
Continue readingWarfarin
Vitamin K antagonist - vitamin K dependent clotting factors: II, VII, IX, X and protein C and S Indications: Mechanical heart valves Valvu…
Continue readingHaemochromatosis
Iron storage disorder - doesn't raise circulating blood iron Raised transferrin saturation and ferritin, with low TIBC Chronic progressi…
Continue readingMemorising the leukaemias
Increasing age--------------------------------------------------------------------> ALL CML AML CLL …
Continue readingNeutropenia sepsis
Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common cause of neutropenic sepsis
Continue readingAbnormal coagulation
Too much clotting: CLOT C - C/S deficiency L - Leiden (factor V) O - Odd (mutated) prO-thrombin T - anTi-thrombin III deficiency Too much blee…
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