Haematology
Browse 56 topics in haematology, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
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Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Acute Chest Syndrome
The clinical course is often unpredictable, with many cases developing 48–72 hours into an admission for a painful VOC. The pathophysiology involves a "vicious cycle" where regional hypoxia leads to red cell sickling...
Acute Haemolytic Crisis
An acute haemolytic crisis represents rapid, pathological destruction of red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in anemia, ja... MRCP exam preparation.
Acute Leukaemia
Epidemiology: AML: Median age 68 years, incidence 4.3 per 100,000 in adults ALL: Bimodal distribution (peak ages 2-5 years and 50 years), incidence 1.7 per 100,000 Male predominance in both subtypes (M:F ratio...
Acute Porphyria
The acute porphyrias are a group of rare, inherited metabolic disorders characterized by life-threatening "neurovisceral" attacks. These conditions result from partial deficiencies in enzymes of the heme biosynthetic...
AL Amyloidosis
AL amyloidosis (immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis) is a rare, systemic protein misfolding disorder caused by the ex... MRCP exam preparation.
Amyloidosis
AL Amyloidosis (Light Chain) : Most common systemic form. Due to clonal plasma cell disorder producing toxic immunoglobulin light chains (kappa or lambda). Medical emergency requiring rapid intervention. ATTR...
Anaemia (Master Topic)
Anaemia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below 130 g/L in men and 1... MRCP exam preparation.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Diagnostic Pearl : Antiphospholipid antibodies must be positive on TWO separate occasions, at least 12 weeks apart, to confirm diagnosis. Transient aPL positivity is common following infections, medications, or...
Aplastic Crisis
The condition is most commonly triggered by parvovirus B19 infection, which selectively targets erythroid precursors via P antigen (globoside) receptor binding, causing direct cytotoxic lysis and arrest of red cell...
Bleeding Disorders in Adults
Bleeding disorders encompass a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by impaired haemostasis, leading to exces... MRCP exam preparation.
Cardiac Amyloidosis
Cardiac amyloidosis is an infiltrative cardiomyopathy caused by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins (amyloid ... MRCP exam preparation.
Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Children
Cervical lymphadenopathy is one of the most common clinical presentations in paediatric practice, representing a diagnos... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Coagulation and Haemostasis
Haemostasis maintains blood fluidity while preventing bleeding through vascular, platelet, and coagulation factors working in concert. Primary haemostasis: Vascular spasm, platelet adhesion (glycoprotein Ib-von...
Coagulation Cascade & Fibrinolysis
Primary haemostasis involves platelet adhesion (via vWF-GPIb), activation (shape change, granule release), and aggreg... CICM First Part Written, CICM First
Coagulation Disorders Pathology
Coagulation disorders in critical illness result from complex interactions between inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and haemostatic pathways. DIC involves simultaneous coagulation activation (tissue factor...
Cryoglobulinaemic Vasculitis
Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis mediated by cryoglobulins—immunoglobulins that revers... MRCP exam preparation.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Adult
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within the deep venous system, most commonly affe... MRCP exam preparation.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) Pharmacology
Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs), also termed Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs), represent a pharmacological revolution in anticoagulation therapy, offering predictable pharmacokinetics, fixed...
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Key Facts Always secondary : DIC is never a primary diagnosis — identify and treat the underlying cause Pathophysiology : Uncontrolled thrombin generation → microthrombi formation → consumption of platelets and...
DOAC-Associated Bleeding in Adults
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have revolutionized anticoagulation therapy, offering predictable pharmacokinetics wi... MRCP, FRCEM exam preparation.
Epistaxis (Nosebleed)
Epistaxis (nosebleed) is bleeding from the nasal cavity, affecting up to 60% of the population at some point in their li... MRCS, MRCP exam preparation.
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by the classic triad of:... MRCPCH exam preparation.
Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by pathological... MRCP, USMLE Step 2/3 exam preparatio
Haemophilia (Adult)
Haemophilia is a group of X-linked recessive bleeding disorders characterized by deficiency of specific clotting factors in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. It represents the archetypal "deep tissue bleeding...
HELLP Syndrome
Maternal stabilisation: Airway, breathing, circulation with blood product support... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Second Part Hot Case exam preparation.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
The hallmark of HIT is the combination of: Thrombocytopenia (platelet drop 50% from baseline) Timing (5-10 days after heparin initiation, or less than 24 hours if recent prior exposure) Thrombosis (30-50% of untreated...
Hereditary Haemochromatosis
Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism characterized by excessive intest... MRCP exam preparation.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
The disease exhibits a bimodal age distribution with peaks at 15-35 years (young adults) and 55 years (older adults). Patients typically present with painless lymphadenopathy , often cervical or supraclavicular, with...
Hyperviscosity Syndrome
Key Facts Cause : IgM paraprotein (Waldenström's 85%), IgA/IgG3 (myeloma 10-15%), cellular (polycythaemia less than 5%) Classic triad : Neurological (70%) + visual (60%) + bleeding (50%) symptoms Diagnosis : Serum...
Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)
A comprehensive guide to Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), covering diagnostic exclusion criteria, differentiation from TTP, and the management ladder (Steroids - IVIg - TPO-RAs - Splenectomy).
Invasive Aspergillosis
Invasive Aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection caused predominantly by Aspergillus fum... MRCP exam preparation.
Leukaemia (Adult)
Leukaemia represents a heterogeneous group of clonal haematological malignancies characterised by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal white blood cells (WBCs) in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. These...
Lymphoma (Adult)
Lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies arising from lymphoid tissue, representing the fifth most common cancer in developed countries. They are broadly classified into Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and...
Major Haemorrhage in Adults
Major haemorrhage is life-threatening acute blood loss requiring immediate massive transfusion and source control. It is defined by transfusion of ≥4 units of packed red blood cells (pRBC) in less than 1 hour, ≥10...
Massive Transfusion Protocol (Adult)
A massive transfusion protocol (MTP) is a standardized institutional approach to rapidly deliver large volumes of blood products to patients with life-threatening hemorrhage. MTP activation streamlines blood bank...
Multiple Myeloma
The disease primarily affects older adults with a median age at diagnosis of approximately 70 years (range 65-74 years). The classic clinical features are remembered by the mnemonic "CRAB" : C alcium elevation...
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
The diagnosis of MDS requires bone marrow examination demonstrating dysplastic changes in ≥10% of cells in one or more myeloid lineages, with exclusion of other causes of dysplasia including nutritional deficiencies...
Myelofibrosis (Adult)
Myelofibrosis (MF) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) characterised by progressive bone marrow fibrosis, extr... MRCP exam preparation.
Platelet Function and Hemostasis
Define/Describe - Platelet structure and origin... CICM First Part Written SAQ, CICM First Part Written MCQ exam preparation.
Polycythaemia Vera
PV represents the most common cause of primary erythrocytosis and is distinguished from secondary causes by the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation in 95% of cases . The remaining cases harbour mutations in JAK2 exon...
Priapism
Ischaemic priapism accounts for 95% of cases and is a compartment syndrome of the penis. The aetiology is diverse: sickle cell disease (most common in children, affecting up to 40% over their lifetime),...
Renal Vein Thrombosis
Renal Vein Thrombosis (RVT) is the formation of thrombus within the main renal veins or their tributaries, leading to im... MRCP exam preparation.
Rhesus Isoimmunisation
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to Rhesus D Isoimmunisation and Haemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN), covering pathophysiology, Anti-D prophylaxis protocols, Kleihauer testing, MCA Doppler...
Sickle Cell Crisis in Adults
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to diagnosis, management, and prevention of acute sickle cell crises including vaso-occlusive crisis, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and other life-threatening complications
Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Fifth Disease/Parvovirus B19)
Slapped Cheek Syndrome (Erythema Infectiosum), historically termed "Fifth Disease" as the fifth described childhood exanthem, is a common viral infection caused by Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V). This small,...
Splenic Sequestration Crisis
The pathophysiology involves acute vaso-occlusion within the splenic red pulp, trapping erythrocytes and leading to a dramatic reduction in circulating blood volume. Unlike other sickle cell crises, SSC predominantly...
Splenomegaly
The spleen's unique anatomical position in the portal circulation and its role as a reticuloendothelial filter make it susceptible to enlargement via three primary mechanisms: congestion (e.g., cirrhosis),...
Systemic Mastocytosis
Clinical manifestations arise from two principal mechanisms: mast cell mediator release (causing flushing, urticaria, pruritus, anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal symptoms) and organ infiltration by neoplastic mast cells...
Thalassaemia
The two principal types are beta-thalassaemia (reduced beta-globin chain production due to mutations in the HBB gene on chromosome 11) and alpha-thalassaemia (reduced alpha-globin chain production due to deletions or...
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Adult)
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterised by ... MRCP exam preparation.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome in Adults
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) are life-threatening thrombotic microang... MRCP exam preparation.
Transfusion Reactions
Recognition requires high clinical suspicion—any new symptom during transfusion warrants immediate cessation and systematic investigation. The two most challenging differential diagnoses are TRALI (transfusion-related...
Tumour Lysis Syndrome
Key Facts Timing : Usually 12-72 hours after chemotherapy initiation; can be spontaneous High-risk tumours : Burkitt lymphoma, ALL, high-grade NHL, AML with hyperleukocytosis Metabolic tetrad : ↑K+, ↑uric acid,...
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), representing a spectrum... MRCP, USMLE exam preparation.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency & Pernicious Anaemia
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency represents a critical nutritional disorder with potentially devastating haematologica... MRCP exam preparation.
Warfarin Reversal and Over-Anticoagulation Management
Warfarin reversal is a time-critical emergency procedure required for patients presenting with major bleeding, life-threatening haemorrhage, or those needing urgent/emergency surgery while on vitamin K antagonist...