Acquired Bleeding Disorders Flashcards
Why are anticoagulants used in patients with atrial fibrillation?
To prevent stroke; if ventricles and atria are not contracting in time, blood can pool in atria and form clots
What are the 4 major classes of anticoagulants?
- Heparin
- Vitamin K antagonists
- DOACs
- Fondaparinux
What is heparin derived from?
Pigs (porcine)
Mechanism of action of unfractionated heparin vs LMWH?
UH form a complex with antithrombin;
- Inhibition of factors: thrombin (factor IIa), factor IXa, Xa, XIa and XIIa.
- This prevents fibrin formation and inhibits thrombin-induced activation of platelets and factors V, VIII, and XI.
LMWH are too short to bind to antithrombin and thrombin simultaneously but bind to antithrombin alone;
- Inactivates factor Xa
- Only reduced inhibitory activity against thrombin (factor IIa) relative to
factor Xa.
Which factors does unfractionated heparin inhibit?
- Thrombin (factor IIa)
- Xa
- IXa (lesser extent)
- XIa (lesser extent)
Inhibits Xa and IIa in 1:1 ratio
Which factor does LMWH predominantly inhibit?
Factor Xa
Does LMWH heparin inhibit platelet function? Does UH?
LMWH - no
UH - yes
Half life of;
a) UH
b) LMWH?
a) 1 hour IV, 2 hours SC
b) 4 hours SC
Frequency of administration of;
a) UH
b) LMWH?
a) continuous infusion
b) daily
Bioavailability of;
a) UH
b) LMWH?
a) 50%
b) 100%
Elimination route of;
a) UH
b) LMWH?
a) renal and hepatic
b) renal
Frequency of HIT in;
a) UH
b) LMWH?
a) high
b) low
What is HIT?
Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia
A clinicopathological syndrome that occurs when heparin dependent IgG antibodies bind to heparin/platelet factor 4 complexes to activate platelets and produce a hypercoagulable state.
How is UH monitored? LMWH?
UH - monitor with APTT ratio
LMWH - anti-Xa levels (assay)
One complication of heparin can be osteoporosis. How does this occur?
a) Heparin causes increased bone resorption by stimulating osteoclasts and suppressing osteoblast function, leading to decreased bone mass.
b) Causes depletion of mast cells in bone marrow and enhancement of parathyroid hormone function, an important regulator of calcium in the body.
What drop in platelets defines HIT?
o drop in platelet count >50% from baseline
o usually 5-10 days after starting heparin
What is the 4Ts Score?
The 4Ts Score is a clinical scoring system to differentiate patients with HIT from those with other causes of thrombocytopenia.
What does the 4Ts Score include?
Thrombocytopenia (extent of fall in platelet count)
Timing (onset of fall in platelet count or thrombosis in relation to initiation of heparin)
Thrombosis (or other sequelae)
Other causes of Thrombocytopenia
How should bleeding on UH be treated? (2 main steps)
- Stop IV heparin
2. Start protamine sulphate
What medicine is used to reverse the effects of unfractionated heparin?
protamine sulphate
What is the maximum protamine sulphate that can be given?
50mg - can cause severe allergic reactions
Why should be checked when giving protamine sulphate?
derived from fish sperm; check patient not got fish allergy
Effectiveness of protamine sulphate in reversal of;
a) UH
b) LMWH
a) very effective
b) only 60% effective
How should bleeding on LMWH be treated? (2 main steps)
- Stop LMWH
- Start protamine sulphate
(if still bleeding despite protamine, consider rFVIIa)
What is Fondaparinux? Mechanism?
• Synthetic pentasaccharide;
o Substitute for patient’s not wanting to receive pig-derived heparin / allergies
• Given subcutaneously
Mechanism: Binds to antithrombin and inhibits Xa activity
What are the 2 major vitamin K antagonists anticoagulants?
- Warfarin
2. Sinthrome (Acenocoumoral)
Where are clotting factors synthesised?
Liver
Where is protein C and S synthesised?
Liver
What coagulation factors is vitamin K required to synthesise in the liver?
o Factor II o Factor VII o Factor IX o Factor X o Protein C o Protein S
Why is the starting of warfarin overlapped with heparin?
Warfarin works by slowing down the process in the liver that uses vitamin K to make clotting factors. Because it may take several days before warfarin becomes completely effective, heparin or LMWH is given until the warfarin is working.
What is an INR test used to monitor?
Used to monitor patient response to warfarin
How long should a patient on warfarin be kept on heparin for?
Keep on heparin until INR >2 on two separate occasions
If heparin isn’t overlapped with warfarin, what disease can this lead to?
Can lead to warfarin induced skin necrosis
What is warfarin induced skin necrosis caused by?
If heparin isn’t overlapped with warfarin, protein C and S will fall quicker than other clotting factors. Can lead to warfarin induced skin necrosis due to deficiency of these proteins.
What does INR measure?
- INR = (prothrombin ratio)^ISI
- Prothrombin ratio = patient’s prothrombin time/ mean normal prothrombin time
- ISI = Correction factor to account for sensitivity of thromboplastin compared with the international reference preparation (IRP).
Prothrombin time = II, V, VII, X and fibrinogen
Which factors involved in prothrombin time are affected by vitamin K?
II, VII and X
Which foods can interact with effects of warfarin?
Food interactions; Vitamin K containing foods can lower INR
How is major bleeding/excess anticoagulation on warfarin treated? (3 main steps)
- Stop warfarin
- Give prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC)
- Give IV vitamin K simultaneously
What is prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC)?
A medication made up of blood clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X –> will raise these clotting factors and hopefully stop bleeding
Why is IV vitamin K required simultaneously during treatment of bleeding/excess anticoagulation on warfarin?
due to short half-life of clotting factors
When should INR be measured during treatment of bleeding/excess anticoagulation on warfarin?
Measure INR 15 mins and 12 hours after PCC