Nightingale College Pathophysiology
Final Study Guide Questions and
Answers
1. Describe how leukemia is classified.
Answer Leukemia is classified according to the type of blood cell affected (lymphoid or
myeloid) and the maturity of the cells (acute or chronic), resulting in four main types; acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
2. Virchow triad; The three factors that contribute to the formation of thrombi
Answer alterations in blood flow (stasis or turbulence), vessel wall injury, and hypercoagulability of
the blood.
3. Atherosclerosis
Answer A condition where plaque builds up in the walls of arteries, causing narrowing and
potential blockage of blood flow, leading to potential complications such as heart attack and stroke.
4. Compare and contrast thrombus and emboli
Answer A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a vessel and may or may not cause
symptoms, while an embolus is a clot or other particle that travels through the bloodstream and can
cause a blockage in a smaller vessel.
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19
,5. Laboratory tests to evaluate disseminated intravascular coagulation
(DIC)
Answer Lab tests to evaluate DIC include a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT),
activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen level, D-dimer level, and platelet count.
6. Shift-to-the-left phenomena
Answer Refers to an increase in the number of immature white blood cells (bands and
metamyelocytes) in the peripheral blood, often seen in response to infection or inflammation.
7. Pathophysiology of polycythemia
Answer Polycythemia is characterized by an increase in red blood cells, often due to
overproduction of erythropoietin or other factors, leading to potential complications such as
thrombosis and hypertension.
8. Clinical manifestations and evaluation of multiple myeloma,
leukemias, and Burkitt lymphoma.
Answer The clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma include bone pain, fatigue,
anemia, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, and recurrent infections. Leukemia presents with
symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, fever, and bleeding or bruising. Burkitt lymphoma presents
with rapid-onset swelling of lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Evaluation may include
blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, and imaging studies.
9. General pathophysiology of leukemia, disseminated intravascular
coagula-tion, essential thrombocythemia, hemochromatosis
Answer Leukemia is a malignant proliferation of white blood cells in the bone marrow.
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19
, Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder that leads to the formation of blood clots in
small blood vessels throughout the body. Essential thrombocythemia is a condition in which the bone
marrow produces too many platelets. Hemochromatosis is a condition characterized by the deposition
of iron in various tissues of the body.
10. Clinical presentation of lymphoma
Answer Lymphoma may present with painless swelling of lymph nodes, fever, night
sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
11. Pathophysiology of lymphoblastic lymphoma and
disseminated intravascu-lar coagulation (DIC)
Answer Lymphoblastic lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that arises from immature T or B
lymphocytes. DIC is a disorder that leads to the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels
throughout the body, which can cause organ damage and bleeding.
12. Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of multiple
myeloma
Answer Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. It
can cause bone pain, fatigue, anemia, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency and recurrent infections.
The excessive production of abnormal plasma cells also leads to the secretion of monoclonal
immunoglobulins, which can cause hyperviscosity syndrome, amyloidosis, and renal damage.
13. Risk factors associated with non-Hodgkins lymphoma
Answer Risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include immunodeficiency, infections
3/
19
Final Study Guide Questions and
Answers
1. Describe how leukemia is classified.
Answer Leukemia is classified according to the type of blood cell affected (lymphoid or
myeloid) and the maturity of the cells (acute or chronic), resulting in four main types; acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
2. Virchow triad; The three factors that contribute to the formation of thrombi
Answer alterations in blood flow (stasis or turbulence), vessel wall injury, and hypercoagulability of
the blood.
3. Atherosclerosis
Answer A condition where plaque builds up in the walls of arteries, causing narrowing and
potential blockage of blood flow, leading to potential complications such as heart attack and stroke.
4. Compare and contrast thrombus and emboli
Answer A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a vessel and may or may not cause
symptoms, while an embolus is a clot or other particle that travels through the bloodstream and can
cause a blockage in a smaller vessel.
1/
19
,5. Laboratory tests to evaluate disseminated intravascular coagulation
(DIC)
Answer Lab tests to evaluate DIC include a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT),
activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen level, D-dimer level, and platelet count.
6. Shift-to-the-left phenomena
Answer Refers to an increase in the number of immature white blood cells (bands and
metamyelocytes) in the peripheral blood, often seen in response to infection or inflammation.
7. Pathophysiology of polycythemia
Answer Polycythemia is characterized by an increase in red blood cells, often due to
overproduction of erythropoietin or other factors, leading to potential complications such as
thrombosis and hypertension.
8. Clinical manifestations and evaluation of multiple myeloma,
leukemias, and Burkitt lymphoma.
Answer The clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma include bone pain, fatigue,
anemia, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, and recurrent infections. Leukemia presents with
symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, fever, and bleeding or bruising. Burkitt lymphoma presents
with rapid-onset swelling of lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Evaluation may include
blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, and imaging studies.
9. General pathophysiology of leukemia, disseminated intravascular
coagula-tion, essential thrombocythemia, hemochromatosis
Answer Leukemia is a malignant proliferation of white blood cells in the bone marrow.
2/
19
, Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder that leads to the formation of blood clots in
small blood vessels throughout the body. Essential thrombocythemia is a condition in which the bone
marrow produces too many platelets. Hemochromatosis is a condition characterized by the deposition
of iron in various tissues of the body.
10. Clinical presentation of lymphoma
Answer Lymphoma may present with painless swelling of lymph nodes, fever, night
sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
11. Pathophysiology of lymphoblastic lymphoma and
disseminated intravascu-lar coagulation (DIC)
Answer Lymphoblastic lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that arises from immature T or B
lymphocytes. DIC is a disorder that leads to the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels
throughout the body, which can cause organ damage and bleeding.
12. Pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of multiple
myeloma
Answer Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. It
can cause bone pain, fatigue, anemia, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency and recurrent infections.
The excessive production of abnormal plasma cells also leads to the secretion of monoclonal
immunoglobulins, which can cause hyperviscosity syndrome, amyloidosis, and renal damage.
13. Risk factors associated with non-Hodgkins lymphoma
Answer Risk factors for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include immunodeficiency, infections
3/
19
