How to prepare for the MRCP Examination? To prepare for part 1 of the MRCP examination you will need to have a solid knowledge of internal medicine including hematology, hemato-oncology, and genetics along with expert insights. This article will cover the hematology and hemato-oncology topics relevant to part 1 of the UK MRCP examination. What is the MRCP examination? The Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) examination in the United Kingdom is a prestigious and comprehensive assessment for medical professionals, including all subspecialists in internal medicine. Developed b ..read more

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a condition characterized by peripheral blood eosinophilia with manifestations of organ system involvement or dysfunction directly related to eosinophilia in the absence of parasitic, allergic, or other secondary causes of eosinophilia. Secondary eosinophilia is a cytokine-derived (interleukin-5 [IL-5]) reactive phenomenon. Worldwide, parasitic diseases are the most common cause, whereas, in developed countries, allergic diseases are the most common cause.  Other causes of eosinophilia include the following: Malignancies – Metastatic cancer, T-cell ..read more

Bleeding may result from abnormalities in Platelets Coagulation factors Blood vessels Vascular bleeding disorders result from defects in blood vessels, typically causing petechiae, purpura, and bruising but, except for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, seldom leading to serious blood loss. Bleeding may result from deficiencies of vascular and perivascular collagen in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and in other rare hereditary connective tissue disorders (e.g. pseudoxanthoma elasticum, osteogenesis imperfecta, Marfan syndrome). Hemorrhage may be a prominent feature of scurvy or of immunoglobul ..read more

Mechanism of action of CAR T-cell therapy. A sample of a patient’s T cells are collected from the blood, then modified to produce special structures called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. When these CAR T cells are reinfused into the patient, the new receptors enable them to latch onto a specific antigen on the patient’s tumor cells and kill them. T cells: To understand CAR T-cell therapy, it helps to understand what T cells do. White blood cells called lymphocytes play an important part in fighting infection and diseases, including cancer. There are different types ..read more

Does coronavirus have direct effects on Blood? The United States and countries around the world face a major public health concern with the current outbreak of the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19). The emergence of the novel coronavirus outbreak in December 2019 was followed by its spread on a global scale unparalleled in the last 100 years. At present, it has claimed over 740,000 lives the world over, with over 20 million cases have tested positive. COVID-19 is primarily characterized by a dry cough, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, respiratory failure and death. The severe acute ..read more

Abnormal hemoglobins are also known as Hemoglobinopathy, Hemoglobin Variants, Hemoglobin S, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemoglobin C Disease, Hemoglobin E Disease, Thalassemia, Hemoglobin Barts, Hereditary Persistence of Fetal Hemoglobin HPFH. Hemoglobin is a carrier for oxygen from the lungs to the various tissues and carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs. About 70% of the body’s iron is present in the red blood cells in the form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-protein complex that gives red blood cells its red color. It is made up of heme, which is the iron-containing port ..read more

Peripheral blood smear. A population of mantle cells with a cleaved nucleus and paucity of cytoplasm Lymphocytosis refers to an increase of peripheral blood lymphocytes, which for adults corresponds to >4000 lymphocytes/microL in most clinical laboratories. Lymphocytopenia refers to a decrease of peripheral blood lymphocytes, which generally corresponds to <1000 lymphocytes/microL in adults. You can have a higher than normal lymphocyte count but have few, if any, symptoms. It usually occurs after an illness and is harmless and temporary. But it might represent something more serious, s ..read more

Nutrition and Blood: Hemoglobin is a protein found in the red blood cells. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. In addition to transporting oxygen, hemoglobin carries carbon dioxide out of the cells and into the lungs. Carbon dioxide is then released as a person exhales. Having low hemoglobin can make it difficult for the body to perform these functions. A person can raise their hemoglobin levels at home by: 1. Increasing iron intake: A person with reduced levels of hemoglobin may benefit from eating more iron-rich foods. Iron serves to boost the production of hemo ..read more

systemic mastocytosis and maculopapular cutaneous lesions (urticaria pigmentosa) Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a form of mastocytosis in which mast cells accumulate in internal tissues and organs such as the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and small intestines. It is typically diagnosed in adults. Signs and symptoms vary based on which parts of the body are affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of mastocytosis includes the following: Cutaneous mastocytosis – Urticaria pigmentosa, maculopapular cutaneous mastocytosis, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis, mastocytoma of skin. Ind ..read more

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Medicines Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) are man-made versions of Erythropoietin (EPO), which is a hormone (chemical messenger) produced naturally by the kidneys. Erythropoietin is produced to a lesser extent by the liver. Only about 10% of erythropoietin is produced in the liver. The erythropoietin gene has been found on human chromosome 7 (band 7q21). The role of erythropoietin is to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. The resulting rise in red cells increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. The erythropoietin hormon ..read more