Anti-coagulants Flashcards
Steps in coagulation (simple)
Diseases possibly caused by thrombus
Inherited risks for thrombogenesis
Acquired risks for thrombogenesis
What’s Factor V Leiden disease
Factor V Leiden:
- the most common inherited risk factor for thrombogenesis among UK’s females (and among European ethnicity)
- mutation in factor V gene (that helps blood to clot)
- increase in blood coagulability (hyper-coagulability)
Pathophysiology in Factor V Leiden disease
- Mutation -> protein C (which normally inhibits factor V) is not able to bind to it -> hypercoagubility
- It is AD, with incomplete penetrance (not everyone with the mutation will be symptomatic)
- Result: Recurrent venous thromboses
Diagnosis of Factor V Leiden disease
Caucasian patient below age 45 with thrombotic event
- lab tests (aPTT - time it takes for blood to clot is decreased)
- genetic testing for a mutation (PCR)
Management of Factor V Leiden disease
Management:
- no cure -> prevention of thrombotic events
- lifelong treatment with anti-coagulants
e. g. Warfarin and Heparin (during periods of increased risks for VT e.g. major surgery)
* cannot be prescribed an oestrogen containing pill
Why D-dimer is usually done?
D- dimers are done rather for patients who we do not suspect to have a clot -> to exclude it definitely
Ix in DVT
PE Investigations
Wells score
- components
- meaning
Pathway for treatment of PE without shock
What risk score and components are used to assess for anti-coagulant need
CHA2DS2
Possible anti-coagulation drugs for people with score 2 or more on CHA2DS2
People with score 2 or above should be offered anti-coagulation with:
- apixaban
- dabigatran etexilate
- rivaroxaban
- Vitamin K antagonist
* Aspirin monotherapy should not be offered in these patients solely for stroke prevention
What score assesses the risk of major bleeds for a patient on anti-coagulant?
Ix and diagnostic findings of PE and DVT
- chest X ray can show lung infract (sometimes)
- sometimes typical ECG changes
- Doppler scan -> if we compress on the veins and it collapses means that there is a clot (as normally it should not collapse)
- V/Q scans (mismatch between perfusion and ventilation)
- CT Pulmonary Angiogram - preferred by doctors as: able to pick up other abnormalities and also visualise the location of a clot
Examples (3) of ADP antagonist drugs
Example of COX inhibitor (1)
Example of Phosphodiesterase inhibitor