Basics to Brilliance: Haematology Podcast

Welcome to Basics to Brilliance, the podcast created to supplement & bolster your knowledge of Haematology.
Featuring a two way, non-didactic conversational-style Q&A between the SpR and SHO, this podcast will be your pocket companion no matter where you are.

We aim to cover:
- Malignant and non-malignant topics

- Science/lab detail

- UK guidelines, hallmark trials and how these translate into clinical practice

- Future research directions

- The whole syllabus for FRCPath part 1

All readily accessible and completely free of charge!

For every budding haematologist out there, we hope this podcast aids you in your endeavours and fills you with interest and excitement for the brilliant world of Haematology.

Warmest Regards,
Dr. Everden
Dr. Fasey
Dr. Jafri

Disclaimer: This podcast is intended as a revision aid and should not be used for the medical management of patients. Guidelines in the initial episodes span 2023/2024. We aim to update our content in accordance with the most recent available guidelines when possible.

This podcast is CPD accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists UK

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Episodes

Inhibitors in Haemostasis

Feedback 00:52 Intro: definition and prompts 04:25 Intro to Case 1: Haemophilia B, 3rd dose of Venefix, Anaphylaxis 06:03 Intro to Case 2: Severe Haemophilia A, joint bleed, non-responsive to emergency Factor VIII 07:30 Initial screening tests NB: Inhibitors: Time Dependent vs. Immediate Acting 14:54 Flash examples of Mixing Study importance 16:35 Bethesda Assay **Bethesda Studios made the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games: they Inhibit Haider from doing any work** 28:45 Bethesda Assay Summary 30:...

Jun 07, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 7

Heparin & the Anti-Xa Assay

Feedback 00:52 Intro (shoutuout to the BSH anticoagulant monitoring guidelines) 02:15 Practical relevance of testing and monitoring anticoagulants 07:30 Heparin: The Basics 09:00 Unfractionated Heparin vs. Low Molecular Weight Heparin 10:24 Mechanism of action of Heparin (UfH vs. LMWH) LMWH: more Anti-Xa activity UfH Anti-IIa acitivity = Anti-Xa activity 15:30 Pharmacokinetic differences (UfH vs. LMWH) 23:28 Unfractionated Heparin uses and monitoring 34:34 Anti Xa Assay 42:32 Activated Clotting ...

May 25, 2025•59 min•Season 2Ep. 5

Thrombin Time & Fibrinogen Assays

Feedback 00:54 Intro and table of contents 1:48 Case 1: pre-op, prolonged PT and ++ prolonged APTT…thrombin time done 03:44 Case 2: post-op, normal PT and prolonged APTT…thrombin time done 04:46 Thrombin Time definition and ingredients (its all about the fibrinogen!) 10:45 Differentiating causes of prolonged thrombin time- protamine, reptilase, ecarin 17:24 Case 3: Major Haemorrhage (Variceal), due OGD, Derived PT Fibrinogen normal 20:45 Clauss Fibrinogen- methodology, causes of change and treat...

May 18, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 4

Mixing Studies & Factor Assays

Feedback 0:52 Intro and table of contents 2:36 CASE 1- Infection, due surgery and a prolonged APTT ft. a refresher on APTT prolongation 08:00 Mixing studies- definition and uses ft. Hari’s exam nugget 17:00 Factor assays (1 stage, 2 stage and chromogenic assays) ft. David’s humorous humility 43:30 David applies his new-found knowledge to our first case 45:45 CASE 2- Infection, hx of weight loss and bleeding and a prolonged APTT 47:36 Summary https://practical-haemostasis.com/Factor%20Assays/1_st...

Apr 27, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 3

Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Feedback ' Basics to Brilliance: Haematology Podcast' has been accredited for CPD credit by the Royal College of Pathologists UK. Medical professionals and clinical scientists holding career-grade positions, who are registered with any of the Royal Colleges for CPD, will be eligible to earn 1 credit for every hour of learning. Email: [email protected] Insta: BasicstoBrilliance X: @basics_2_brill Send us your feedback!...

Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Practical Haemostasis of the Clotting Screen

Feedback 00:00 Intro 04:25 Automated Methods of Measuring a Clot 05:50 Scenario 1 & Pre-Analytical Variables 11:50 HIL Index & Patient Factors 15:55 Blood Tube Basics 21:10 Nitty Gritties- What Happens When We Send a PT? 23:20 PT vs INR for Warfarin- Going Down The Rabbit Hole... 26:35 Heparin Neutralising Buffer 29:00 APTT 33:05 Summary (& an honorable mention) ' Basics to Brilliance: Haematology Podcast' has been accredited for CPD credit by the Royal College of Pathologists UK. Me...

Apr 05, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 2

The Clotting Screen: Back to Basics

Feedback 0:00 Intro 2:45 What is Haemostasis? 3:55 Stages of Haemostasis (summary) 4:45 Primary Haemostasis 8:35 Secondary Haemostasis 11:10 The Clotting Cascade 12:20 Common + Extrinsic Pathway 13:50 Intrinsic Pathway (TwelvEleveNinEight) 14:25 Clotting Tests 16:30 Hari Pops The Bubble 18:05 In-Vivo vs. In-Vitro 22:20 Isolated PT Prolongation- causes 25:46 Isolated APTT Prolongation- causes 27:43 Paired PT/APTT Prolongation- causes 28:50 Best Test for Bleeeding (David makes Hari proud) 30:24 Bl...

Mar 30, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 1

Essential Thrombocythemia (ET)

Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)

Mar 11, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 6

Polycythemia Rubra Vera (PRV)

Feedback Polycythaemia- red cell # Erythrocytosis – in red cell mass Absolute Erythrocytosis - M: Hct >0.60 or >0.52 + RCM >25% of mean - F: Hct >0.56 or >0.48 + RCM >25% of mean Apparent Erythrocytosis - Men: Hct >0.52 + normal RCM - Women: Hct >0.48 + normal RCM Relative erythrocytosis -Normal RCM + Reduced plasma volume (pathological dehydration) M>F Median >60yo 2' PRV: treat underlying cause +/- venesection (higher hct threshold) Classification of Absolute: EPO...

May 26, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Secondary CNS Lymphoma

Feedback - Synchronous CNS and systemic lymphoma at initial presentation (treatment-naïve; TN-SCNSL ) - CNS relapse without recurrent systemic lymphoma (relapsed isolated CNS lymphoma; RI-SCNSL ) - Relapsed concomitant systemic and CNS disease following treatment for systemic lymphoma (RC-SCNSL ) Generally hybrid disease Investigations - MRI Head w gadolinium - PET-CT - Testicular US (blood testes barrier influences treatment) - Opthalmoscopy/fundoscopy +/- Vitreal biopsy +/- subretinal aspirate...

May 12, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Primary CNS Lymphoma

Feedback CNS Lymphomas 1% of all NHL 3% of all Brain tumours Most common subtype (90%) is DLBCL Clinical division: 1. 1* CNS lymphoma, 2. 2* CNS lymphoma - TN-SCNSL - RI-SCNSL - RC-SCNSL 3. Immune deficiency assoc- HIV; better prog. Presentation: - SOL Sx - Raised ICP: morning headaches w N+V - Neuropsych, Behavioural, Memory, Language - Focal motor + Stroke Sx - Seizures - Visual Sx and uveitis Investigations: - FBC + Blood film (exclude 2* CNS lymphoma and BM), GFR, U&Es - LDH (prog.) - Vi...

Apr 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Chronic Monomyelocytic Leukemia (CMML)

Feedback Chronic MyeloMonocytic Leukemia (not CML) Persistently high monocyte count- 3 months Most frequent MDS/Myeloproliferative neoplasms – a cross between the two Median age 72 Median survival 20-40 months Transformation to AML (15-30%) WHO definition of CMML: 1. Excess monocytes- persistent over 3 months, ≥ 1 - Monocytes 10% of total WC count 2. Dysplasia: morphological difference (blood film on BMBx) OR 3. Genetic abnormalites ( on cytogenetics or molecular) WHO Addition in 2022: Persisten...

Apr 14, 2024•42 min

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Feedback Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)- Chronic Relapsing Remitting Most common leukemia in adults Incurable but treatable *Remember Supportive Care* Median age of 72 M > F 80% incidental SLL: lymphocytes in lymph nodes and spleen instead of blood Presentation: 1) Fatigue 2) B symptoms 3) High WC 4) Cytopenias (Marrow infiltrate, AIHA, ITP, Hyposplenism) Rule out: Reactive (viral serology)- Hepatitis, HIV Investigate: 1) FBC + blood film (mature lymphocytes) w/ trend 2) Haemolysis screen...

Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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