Leukocytosis
What are the five major types of white blood cells?
Neutrophils, Basophils, Lymphocytes, Eosinophils, Monocytes
What MCV and MCH range defines normocytic, normochromic anaemia?
MCV 80-100 fL, MCH >= 27 g/L
A patient has persistent monocytosis on several FBCs without an obvious acute infection. What are 2 possible differentials?
Chronic infections, myeloid neoplasms , Autoimmune etc
After FBE and blood film confirm a normocytic picture, what single test is key for further work-up?
Reticulocyte count
A patient with bacterial pneumonia has neutrophilia with a left shift. What does this mean?
Increased total neutrophil + Increased immature neutrophils
A patient has normocytic anaemia, high reticulocytes, and no history of bleeding. What two blood tests do you check first?
Serum bilirubin and serum haptoglobin (haemolysis screen)
A patient has persistent eosinophilia. Besides allergy, parasitic infection and cancer, what is another possible endocrine cause you could consider?
Adrenal Insufficiency
Cortisol -> MORE neutrophils
LESS Eosinophils and LESS lymphocytes.
DOUBLE POINTS IF YOU KNOW WHY
What hormone drives anaemia of chronic disease, and what does it do to ferroportin?
Hepcidin, as it degrades ferroportin, trapping iron inside macrophages, enterocytes, and hepatocytes
A young adult presents with fever, sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy. Their blood film shows elevated atypical lymphocytes. What is the likely cause?
EBV
A haemolysing patient is DAT (Coombs) positive. Would you expect their G6PD and pyruvate kinase levels to be normal or abnormal?
Normal, a positive DAT points to an immune cause, not an enzyme disorder