. This is the haematology report of a 40 year old man who has been ventilated in intensive care 24 hours after a motor vehicle accident. He has suffered head, thoracic, abdominal and orthopaedic injuries.
|
Hb |
84 |
g/L |
(130-175)* |
|
WCC |
8.3 |
x 109/L |
(4.0-11.0) |
|
Platelets |
240 |
x 109/L |
(150-450) |
|
Reticulocytes |
220 |
x 109/L |
(10-80)* |
|
Neutrophils |
5.8 |
x 109/L |
(1.8-7.5) |
|
Lymphocytes |
1.5 |
x 109/L |
(1.5-4.0) |
|
Monocytes |
0.4 |
x 109/L |
(0.2-0.8) |
|
Eosinophils |
0.6 |
x 109/L |
(0.0-0.4) |
|
Haematocrit |
0.25 |
(0.4-0.52)* |
|
|
MCV |
88.4 |
fl |
(82-98) |
|
MCH |
30.2 |
pg |
(27.0-34.0) |
|
MCHC |
341 |
g/L |
(310-360) |
a) What is the most likely cause of the abnormalities?
b) He is due to undergo orthopaedic surgery and a laparotomy on day 2. A
coagulation profile performed prior to the procedure reveals the following.
|
Prothrombin |
0.9 |
INR |
(0.8-1.2) |
|
|
APTT |
33 |
sec |
(24-39) |
|
|
Fibrinogen |
6.1 |
g/L |
(1.5-4.0)* |
|
What is the cause of the raised fibrinogen?
c) On day 10 in intensive care, he develops a new fever, A full blood count and a septic screen are performed. The results of the full blood count are provided below. The septic screen results are awaited.
|
Hb |
76 |
g/L |
(130-175)* |
|
WCC |
15.8 |
x 109/L |
(4.0-11.0) |
|
Platelets |
1211 |
x 109/L |
(150-450) |
|
Reticulocytes |
220 |
x 109/L |
(10-80)* |
|
Neutrophils |
10.4 |
x 109/L |
(1.8-7.5) |
|
Lymphocytes |
2.06 |
x 109/L |
(1.5-4.0) |
|
Monocytes |
2.54 |
x 109/L |
(0.2-0.8) |
|
Eosinophils |
0.48 |
x 109/L |
(0.0-0.4) |
|
Haematocrit |
0.26 |
(0.4-0.52)* |
|
|
MCV |
92 |
fl |
(82-98) |
|
MCH |
29.9 |
pg |
(27.0-34.0) |
|
MCHC |
326 |
g/L |
(310-360) |
Film review: Moderate anisocytosis. Moderate polychromasia. Moderate number of target cells. Occasional Howell-Jolly bodies. Increased rouleaux formation. Marked thrombocytosis
c). What is the explanation for the blood picture?
d)Based on this explanation , what additional therapy will you consider ?
e) As a consequence of the head injury, he develops a hydrocephalus which requires a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. He is discharged home 4 weeks later. Six months after discharge, he presents with fever, headache and seizures.
List the 2 most likely differential diagnoses.
a) What is the most likely cause of the abnormalities?
Acute blood loss . Hemolysis is unlikely in this setting.
b) He is due to undergo orthopaedic surgery and a laparotomy on day 2. A
coagulation profile performed prior to the procedure reveals the following.
|
Prothrombin |
0.9 |
INR |
(0.8-1.2) |
|
|
APTT |
33 |
sec |
(24-39) |
|
|
Fibrinogen |
6.1 |
g/L |
(1.5-4.0)* |
|
What is the cause of the raised fibrinogen?
Acute phase response
c) On day 10 in intensive care, he develops a new fever, A full blood count and a septic screen are performed. The results of the full blood count are provided below. The septic screen results are awaited.
|
Hb |
76 |
g/L |
(130-175)* |
|
WCC |
15.8 |
x 109/L |
(4.0-11.0) |
|
Platelets |
1211 |
x 109/L |
(150-450) |
|
Reticulocytes |
220 |
x 109/L |
(10-80)* |
|
Neutrophils |
10.4 |
x 109/L |
(1.8-7.5) |
|
Lymphocytes |
2.06 |
x 109/L |
(1.5-4.0) |
|
Monocytes |
2.54 |
x 109/L |
(0.2-0.8) |
|
Eosinophils |
0.48 |
x 109/L |
(0.0-0.4) |
|
Haematocrit |
0.26 |
(0.4-0.52)* |
|
|
MCV |
92 |
fl |
(82-98) |
|
MCH |
29.9 |
pg |
(27.0-34.0) |
|
MCHC |
326 |
g/L |
(310-360) |
Film review: Moderate anisocytosis. Moderate polychromasia. Moderate number of target cells. Occasional Howell-Jolly bodies. Increased rouleaux formation. Marked thrombocytosis
c). What is the explanation for the blood picture?
Post splenectomy
d)Based on this explanation , what additional therapy will you consider ?
Immunization for HIB. Meningococcus and pneumococcus.
Penicillin or other antibiotic prophylaxis
e) As a consequence of the head injury, he develops a hydrocephalus which requires a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. He is discharged home 4 weeks later. Six months after discharge, he presents with fever, headache and seizures.
List the 2 most likely differential diagnoses.
a) Shunt infection / blocked shunt
b) Meningitis from encapsulated bacteria.
c) Consideration should be given to other causes such as viral and bacterial meningitis, however they will carry a lesser mark.
a) What is the most likely cause of the abnormalities?
The college presents us with an FBC which demonstrates anaemia and a vigororus reticulocyte response. This is consistent with the bone marrow of a young man trying to regenerate a hematocrit.
b) What is the cause of the raised fibrinogen?
Fibrinogen is one of the acute phase reactant proteins; trauma and blood loss are major stimuli to increased fibrinogen synthesis by the liver. One could list all the acute phase reactants here, but there are too damn many - this NEJM article has a table (Table 1). Fibrinogen syntheis si induced by interlukin-6, and it in turn induced endothelial cell proliferation, which is good if you have open wounds to heal. Fibrinogen is also one of the reasons the ESR increases during inflammatory states.
c). What is the explanation for the blood picture?
The blood picture demonstrates a characteristic post-splenectomy scenario.
The typical abnormalities are as follows:
d)Based on this explanation , what additional therapy will you consider ?
Management of the post-splenectomy patient is discussed in greather depth elsewhere. In brief summary, the management consists of the following measures:
e) List the 2 most likely differential diagnoses.
Fever, headache and seizures in an asplenic patient with a VP shunt simply screams "meningitis". The shunt may be infected, or simply blocked, but the smart money is on an encapsulated orgnaism of some sort, and Streptococcus pneumonia is the most likely culprit. More details can be found in the chapter on sepsis in the post-splenectomy setting.
Gabay, Cem, and Irving Kushner. "Acute-phase proteins and other systemic responses to inflammation." New England journal of medicine 340.6 (1999): 448-454.
Cadili, Ali, and Chris de Gara. "Complications of splenectomy." The American journal of medicine 121.5 (2008): 371-375.
Di Sabatino, Antonio, Rita Carsetti, and Gino Roberto Corazza. "Post-splenectomy and hyposplenic states." The Lancet 378.9785 (2011): 86-97.
Khan, Palwasha N., et al. "Postsplenectomy reactive thrombocytosis."Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 22.1 (2009): 9.