Complex Hematological Disorders

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering complex hematological disorders including polycythemia, thrombocytopenia, leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma.

Polycythemia

A hematologic disorder defined by the production and presence of increased numbers of RBCs, leading to hyperviscosity and hypervolemia; diagnostic thresholds include Hct $\ge 52\%$ and Hgb $\ge 18.5\,\text{g/dL}$ in men, and Hct $\ge 48\%$ and Hgb $\ge 16.5\,\text{g/dL}$ in women.

Plethora

A ruddy, reddened facial complexion resulting from hyperviscosity and increased red blood cell volume, characteristically seen in patients with polycythemia.

Hydroxurea

A pharmacologic agent administered in the medical plan of care for polycythemia to depress bone marrow production of blood cells.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition characterized by a reduction in platelet count, caused by decreased production (cancers, medications, toxins), increased destruction (autoimmune, medications, infection), or increased consumption (major bleeding, DIC, heparin).

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP)

A hematologic condition manifested by bruising, petechiae, and bleeding, which carries a critical complication of uncontrolled hemorrhage.

Petechiae

Small, pinpoint red or purple hemorrhages on the skin that appear as a clinical manifestation of thrombocytopenia and ITP.

Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

A diagnostic procedure involving needle insertion through the skin and cortical bone to aspirate and evaluate marrow cells for hematologic disorders including ITP, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Romiplostim (Nplate)

A platelet booster medication prescribed as part of medical therapy for patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP).

Leukemia

A blood cancer affecting the bone marrow wherein myeloid or lymphoid cells mutate into leukemic blast cells that proliferate continuously without maturing and ignore signals for apoptosis.

Acute Leukemias (AML and ALL)

Acute forms of leukemia—specifically acute myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia—characterized by a sudden, rapid onset of clinical symptoms.

Chronic Leukemias (CML and CLL)

Chronic forms of leukemia—specifically chronic myelogenous leukemia and chronic lymphoblastic leukemia—that present more subtly, persist for years, and later progress to display more acute symptoms.

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factors (GCSFs)

Subcutaneous injectable agents, such as filgrastim (Neupogen) and pegfilgrastim (Neulesta), administered to treat neutropenia resulting from chemotherapy and radiation.

Autologous Transplant

A stem cell or bone marrow transplantation procedure that utilizes the patient's own harvested cells to restore hematopoietic function.

Allogeneic Transplant

A stem cell or bone marrow transplantation procedure in which cells from a matched donor are infused to eradicate leukemic cells and restore marrow function.

Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

A complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in which donor T cells launch an immune attack against the recipient host tissues.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A solid lymphoid malignancy that originates in a single lymph node of the neck, spreads locally, features Reed-Sternberg B-cells, and carries a higher survival rate.

Reed-Sternberg Cells

Characteristic abnormal, giant neoplastic B-cells whose diagnostic identification distinguishes Hodgkin's lymphoma from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A lymphoid malignancy originating in multiple lymph nodes across diverse sites, involving either B or T cells, that spreads extensively and carries a lower survival rate.

B Symptoms

A group of constitutional clinical manifestations seen in lymphoma consisting of low-grade fever, night sweats, chills, fatigue, and an unintentional weight loss of $10\%$ or more within $6\,\text{months}$.

Superior Vena Cava (SVC) Syndrome

A serious oncologic complication of lymphoma caused by mediastinal vascular compression, manifesting as chest pain, dyspnea, dysphagia, jugular venous distention (JVD), and facial and upper extremity swelling.

Multiple Myeloma

A hematologic cancer in which malignant plasma B cells proliferate uncontrollably, infiltrate bone marrow and other organs, and produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin.

Monoclonal Protein (M Protein)

An abnormal immunoglobulin antibody produced in excessive amounts by neoplastic plasma B cells in multiple myeloma, which destroys bone and drives blood hyperviscosity.

Bence Jones Protein

An abnormal protein present in the urinalysis of patients with multiple myeloma that serves as a key diagnostic laboratory marker.

Lytic Lesions

"Punched-out" radiographic areas of bone destruction caused by uncontrolled plasma cell proliferation in patients with multiple myeloma.

Bortezomib (Velcade)

An immune modifier medication utilized in the pharmacological medical management of multiple myeloma.

Apheresis

A therapeutic blood filtering procedure utilized in multiple myeloma to remove excess circulating M protein and reduce blood viscosity.