02404 - Haematology (L-Z)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the most relevant malignant and non-malignant diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. More specifically, students will be able to:

- recognize and understand the clinical signs and symptoms, as well as the laboratory features, of anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, acute and chronic leukemias, chronic myeloproliferative disorders, lymphomas and multiple myeloma;

- understand the indications to autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adult patients.

Course contents

Hematopoiesis. Hematopoietic stem cells, growth factors, granulocytopoiesis, erythropoiesis.

Anemias. Identification and diagnostic criteria, classification, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, laboratory profile, differential blood counts.

Megaloblastic anemia. Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency; diagnostic criteria and treatment.

Iron deficiency anemia. Iron metabolism and distribution of body iron; etiology; diagnostic criteria and treatment.

Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies. Beta-thalassemias, alpha-thalassemias, hemoglobinopathies, sickle cell disease.

Hemolytic anemias (I). Hemolysis under normal and pathologic conditions; signs and symptoms of hemolysis and laboratory profile. Hereditary spherocytosis, hemolytic anemias due to enzymatic defects, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Hemolytic anemias (II). Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic disease of the newborn.

Aplastic anemia.

Acute leukemias (I). Introductory remarks and classification. Acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute leukemias (II). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (I). Chronic myeloid leukemia.

Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (II). Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, primary (and secondary) myelofibrosis.

Myelodysplastic syndromes.

Chronic lymphoproliferative diseases. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, prolymphocytic leukemias.

Monoclonal gammopathies (I). Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Multiple myeloma.

Monoclonal gammopathies (II). AL amyloidosis. Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Lymphomas (I). Introductory remarks and classification. Hodgkin lymphoma.

Lymphomas (II). Nodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Lymphomas (III). Extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation: general principles and applications.

Thrombocytopenias (I). Megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. Identification and diagnostic criteria of thrombocytopenias; classification, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, laboratory profile.

Thrombocytopenias (II). Immune thrombocytopenia. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Coagulation disorders. Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, von Willebrand disease. Acquired coagulation disorders in chronic liver disease. Disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Principles of palliative care.

Readings/Bibliography

S. Tura, M. Cavo, P.L. Zinzani, Corso di Malattie del sangue e degli organi emolinfopoietici, Società editrice Esculapio, Bologna 2020.

S. Tura, M. Cavo, P.L. Zinzani, Hematology, Società editrice Esculapio, Bologna 2018.

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

Teaching methods

Class lectures.

Assessment methods

Single written multiple-choice exam within the course of "Hematology, Clinical immunology and Rheumatology" (Ematologia, Immunologia clinica e Reumatologia, EICR), consisting of twenty questions for each of the three disciplines (60 questions in total). Exam duration: 60 minutes. There is ONLY ONE correct answer.

Each correct answer scores 1 point. Each wrong answer or any unanswered question accounts for zero points.

Teaching tools

Teacher's Slides.

Office hours

See the website of Pier Luigi Zinzani