Ateneo - UPO

The course will cover the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, the diagnostics, the prognosis, the therapeutic rationale and clinical management of the main hematologic diseases. The course will also provide students with the tools for a critical interpretation of the patient physical findings, complete blood count and differential, and main coagulative disorders.

Giuliani N, Olivieri A. EMATOLOGIA. Idelson-Gnocchi, 2020

The aim of the course is to render the student able to know, interpret and analyze the main hematological topics of the course that are relevant for a Physician, with a critical attitude, as requested by the Dublin descriptor 3. Specific aims are: a) know the pathophysiology and clinical picture of hematologic diseases and develop an appropriate clinical reasoning; b) be able to critically interpret clinical and lab findings of hematologic disorders, in order to formulate a correct diagnostic workup and an appropriate management of the patient

Knowledge of the propedeutical courses of the most recent version of program rules

A) Taught (frontal) classes with slide presentations available on the UPO DIR website (https://www.dir.uniupo.it/); B) Self-test MCQs available on the DIR website (https://www.dir.uniupo.it/) after each class; C) Interpretation and presentation of clinical cases and lab findings (see the "Complete Blood Count handbook" available on DIR); D) Interactive digital whiteboard

Internship: discussion of clinical cases and interpretation of the main physical and lab findings of hematological interest

The exam will be in the context of the exam of the Integrated Course of Patologia Medica 3. In particular, the exam of Hematology is based on: Part a) Written exam with 15 MCQs (5 possible choices, of which only 1 is correct) concerning the topics of the course. A fraction of the MCQs will be based on “clinical vignettes”. Examples of the MCQs are available on the UPO DIR website.
Part B: oral discussion of a simulated clinical case related to the program of the course

A. GENERAL PART A1. Pathophysiology of hemolymphopoiesis A2. Clinical and laboratory semeiotics in haematology A3. Clinical interpretation of CBC and differential A4. General strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of haematological diseases A5. Pathophysiology and clinical implications of bone marrow aplasia A6. Bone marrow aplasia B. DISEASES OF RED BLOOD CELLS B1. Definition of anemia and clinical features of the anaemic syndrome B2. Pathophysiology and classification of anemias B3. Anemias due to altered haemoglobin synthesis (sideropenic anemia, anemia of chronic disease) B4. Anemias due to altered DNA synthesis (folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency) B5. Hereditary hemoglobinopathies B6. Hemolytic anemias C. HEMATONCOLOGY C1. General mechanisms of leukemogenesis and lymphomagenesis C2. Acute myeloid leukemia and acute promyelocytic leukemia C3. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia C4. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas C5. Hodgkin lymphoma C6. MBL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia C7. Hairy cell leukemia D. DISEASES OF HEMOSTASIS D1. Diagnostics of hemostasis D2. Hereditary coagulopathies (haemophilia A and B; vonWillebrand disease) D3. Acquired coagulopathies (DIC, acquired hemophilia, iatrogenic coagulopathies) D4. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) D5. Thrombotic microngiopathies D6. Hereditary and acquired thrombophilia E. BASICS OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE F. CLINICAL REASONING IN HEMATOLOGY F1. Discussion of clinical cases F2. Clinical interpretation of the main laboratory findings of haematological interest G. BASICS OF HEMATOLOGIC MORPHOLOGY G1. Normal blood cells G2. Promyelocytes G3. Schistocytes

At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of the main non-neoplastic hematologic diseases and of some hematoncological disorders. They will also be able to critically evaluate the complete blood count, the main hemostatic findings and the findings of physical examination, in order to formulate diagnostic hypothesis and options of clinical management.