Haematology

Recommended Prerequisites

Cellular and Molecular Biology; Immunology; Biochemistry. 

Teaching Methods

The course is based on three types of classes:

i) Theoretical classes, where the different course subjects are presented and discussed,

ii) Theoretical and practical classes focused on the presentation and discussion of scientific papers, for clarification and application of the concepts discussed in the theoretical ones.

iii) Laboratory classes using methodologies for diagnostics, including analysis and interpretation of the results.    

Learning Outcomes

This curricular unit comprises a substantial range of knowledge related to the morphology and function of the haematopoietic system in health and disease as well as the laboratory techniques used in the diagnosis, prognosis and in therapy monitoring in haematology.

a) Knowledge about the morphology and function of the haematopoietic system

b) Interpretation of the laboratory results for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy monitoring in the principal haematological pathologies.

c) Understanding either the cellular and molecular mechanisms of haematological diseases, or the laboratory techniques used to study these diseases.

d) To know the role of the investigation in diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutics in the haematology field, namely, in minimal residual disease evaluation and new therapeutic approaches.

e) Acquisition skills for interpretations of laboratory analysis in different clinical reports of haematological diseases.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

I – Morphology and function of the haematopoietic system

- Metabolism and haematopoietic system

- Coagulation and haemostasis

II – Molecular pathology of hematological diseases – Laboratorial diagnosis and therapeutic applications

- Haemostasis pathology; Red Cell Pathology; Leucocytes pathology - benignes and neoplastic diseases;

Myeloproliferative diseases and myelodysplasic syndromes. Pathogenesis and laboratory support to clinical diagnosis and therapy monitoring

- Minimal residual disease, laboratory evaluation methods

- Molecular hematology and therapeutic implications

- Methods in molecular diagnosis, practical applications and interpretation of laboratory results.

Laboratory Classes:

- Methodologies routinely used in hematology laboratories

- Laboratory techniques in cellular/molecular haematology: Morphological and cytochemical staining methods; Conventional cytogenetics and FISH techniques; Flow cytometry and PCR.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Celeste Fernandes Lopes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: lab examination: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

Essential Haematology, Hoffbrand A.V. and Pettit J.E., (2011). Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Atlas Clinical Haematology, Hoffbrand A.V. and Pettit J.E., (2010). Gower Medical Publishing.

Practical Haematology, Dacie J.V. and Lewis S.M., (2006). Churchil Livingstone.

WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, Steven H. Swerdlow et al. (2008). IARC

Lecture notes or articles will be supplied whenever needed.