Abnormalities of haemostasis Flashcards
what are some examples of minor bleeding?
bruising
gum bleed
menorrhagia
name for nose bleed
epistaxes
what are examples of abnormal bleeding?
o Epistaxes not stopped by 10 minutes of compression.
o Cutaneous haemorrhage/bruise without apparent trauma.
o Prolonged (>15m) bleeding from trivial wounds.
o Menorrhagia requiring treatment or leading to anaemia.
o Heavy, prolonged or recurrent bleeding after surgery.
what are the 2 main causes of abnormal bleeding
- lack of a specific factor (production failure can be genetic or acquired, increases consumption/clearance)
- defective factor function (genetic or acquired), can be a defect of a drug
which components of primary haemostasis can have defects?
platelets
VWF
collagen
what are some causes of thrombocytopenia?
- low number platelets
- BM failure e.g. leukaemia, B12 deficiency.
- accelerated clearance e.g. ITP –> reduces lifespan
- pooling and destruction in splenomegaly
what are two causes of impaired function of platelets?
o Hereditary absence of glycoproteins/storage-granules.
o Acquired from drugs
– e.g. aspirin (NSAIDs), Clopidogrel.
what drugs cause platelet defects?
aspirin, other NSAIDs, Clopidogrel.
(anti-platelets)
aspirin impairs platelet aggregation by preventing TXA2 synthesis via COX-1 inhibition
what is ITP?
how does it increase platelet clearance?
what does this cause?
Immune Thrombocytopenia
Anti-platelet antibodies attack platelets that get engulfed by splenic macrophages.
Very common cause of thrombocytopenia.
what are the consequences for platelets due to thrombocytopenia
o Failure of platelet production by megakaryocytes.
o Shortened half-life of platelets.
o Increased pooling and decreased half-life of platelets in spleen.
hereditary diseases affecting platelets
Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia
Bernard Souiler syndrome
Storage Pool disease
hereditary VW disease
what are the types of VWD?
common form of vWD.
vWF two functions – bind collagen (to catch platelets) and stabilise F8.
- Type 1, 3 – deficiency of vWF.
- Type 2 – abnormal function of vWF.
types of hereditary VWD
- Type 1, 3 – deficiency of vWF.
* Type 2 – abnormal function of vWF
what causes the rare acquired form of VWD
an antibody
abnormal haemostasis diseases
thrombocytopenia (platelets)
VWD (VWF)
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (collagen)
inherited conditions of collagen defect
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome [excessively stretchy skin]
acquired collagen defect
scurvy
steroid therapy
ageing (senile purpura)
vasculitis
typical bleeding patterns
o Immediate. o Prolonged from cuts and after trauma/surgery. o Epistaxes. o Gum bleeding. o Menorrhagia. o Easy bruising.
what is characteristic in thrombocytopenia?
petechiae bruising (characteristic of low platelets)
tests for abnormal bleeding investigation
o Platelet count.
o Bleeding time (PFA100 lab test).
o Assays of vWF.
o Clinical observation.
where do the defects lie in secondary haemostasis
- in coagulation factors
- in the crosslinked fibrin
what occurs in the haemophilia type 8?
failure of generation of thrombin burst due to defects in F8
(thrombin provides +feedback to F8)
Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin)
what is the importance of fibrin in larger vessels?
The primary platelet plug is sufficient for small vessel injury but in the larger vessels, the plug will break apart unless it is stabilised by fibrin.
what can cause the decrease in cross-linked fibrin
- deficiency in factor 13 production
- increase consumption of factors
hereditary deficiencies in factor production
F8/9 – Haemophilia A/B,
Haemarthrosis is hallmark (the bleeding into joint spaces)
F2 (thrombin) – lethal.
F11 – bleed after trauma but not spontaneously.
F12 – no excess bleeding at all.
acquired (more common) deficiencies in factor production
1) Liver disease (production site)
2) Dilution – e.g. transfusions.
- RBC transfusions don’t contain plasma unless they’re major.
3) Anticoagulant drugs – e.g. Warfarin.
what are 2 acquired increased consumptions causes?
1) DIC – Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
• Generalised activation of coagulation via TF.
• Associated with sepsis, major tissue damage and inflammation.
• Consumes and depletes coagulation factors, platelets and fibrinogen.
• Deposition of fibrin in vessels causes organ failure.
2) Immune – auto-antibodies.
typical bleeding patterns in secondary haemostasis
o Superficial cuts DO NOT bleed.
o Bruising is common, nosebleeds are rare.
o Spontaneous bleeding is deep, into muscles and joints (haemarthrosis)
o Bleeding after trauma may be delayed but is prolonged.
o Bleeding frequently restarts after stopping.
what precaution must be taken with haemophiliacs considering deep bleeding
intramuscular injections must be avoided due to deep tissue bleeds possible
tests for defective secondary haemostasis
o Screening tests (‘clotting screen’):
- PT – Prothrombin Time.
(Extrinsic & Common pathway defects)
- APTT – Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time.
(Intrinsic & Common pathway defects)
- FBC – Full Blood Count (for platelets).
o Factor assays – e.g. for F8 etc.
o Tests for inhibitors.
PT and TT and APTT resulst in haemophilia
- Prothrombin time =normal
- Thrombin time =normal
- Activated partial thromboplastin time = abnormal
(due to defective intrinsic pathway)
remember Prothrombin time does not include F8
(1,2,5,7,10) therefore remains normal
APTT is best to measure for haemophilia
bleeding disorders not detected by routine clotting tests
Mild factor deficiencies. vWD. F13 deficiency (to cross-link the fibrin) – common pathway is measured in BOTH APTT and PT. Platelet disorders. Excessive fibrinolysis. Vessel wall disorders. Metabolic disorders – e.g. uraemia. Thrombotic disorders.
hereditary cause of excessive fibrinolysis
anti-plasmin deficiency therefore less plasmin deactivation
plasmin causes fibrinolysis