DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

King Edward Medical University, Lahore

Problem Based Learning Scenario (First Year MBBS), 2024

TOPIC: WHITE BLOOD CELLS

During the months of August to September, an outbreak of high-grade fever preceded by

shivering and chills, headache along with body aches and pains, burst in a village where the
people used to sleep outside without any protection against mosquitoes. Laboratory
investigation of few of these people (who visited hospital) revealed that these symptoms are
due to bite of a female mosquito Anopheles. Furthermore, neutropenia was seen in all these
patients along with splenomegaly on abdominal ultrasound. Keeping this scenario in view,
answer the following questions:

Q1: What is your diagnosis. What is neutropenia and why does this occur in this disease?
Q2: What is the mechanism of action of neutrophils?
Q3: Define neutrophilia. Mention its physiological and pathological causes.
Q4: a) Define opsonization and opsonin. Give any two examples of opsonin.
b) Name few of the chemotactic agents.
Q5: Briefly explain the mechanism of respiratory or oxidative burst. What is its significance?
Q6: How will you differentiate between phagocytic capability of macrophages and
neutrophils?
Q7:
a) What is total Leucocyte count. How will you classify WBCs?
b) What is differential leucocyte count and its importance?
Q8: What is Arneth count? Mention the causes of its shift towards right and left.
Q9: What morphological changes occur over the period during different stages of
leukopoiesis?
Q10:
a) Define leukemia and mention its effects on body.
b) What is leukemoid reaction?
c) What is the difference between leukemia and leukemoid reaction?