Bleeding conditions Flashcards
Platelet Function Assay
● Time it takes to clot a damaged vessel
● Measures platelet adhesion and aggregation
● Whole blood is passed over a membrane containing collagen and epinephrine or ADP
● Reported as the seconds required to close a small aperture in the membrane
● Less invasive, and more reproducible
Prothrombin time assesses function of the ____ and common pathway
extrinsic
Time required for a fibrin clot formation
Prothrombin time
Normally 11-15 seconds
Partial Thromboplastin Time is Used to assess the ____ and Common Pathway
Intrinsic
Prolonged if over 35 sec (normally 25-35 seconds)
Partial Thromboplastin Time
Coagulation Factor Assays (V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII)
● Used to detect specific coagulation factors
● Used to evaluate blood with abnormal PT and PTT
● Test is done by adding a factor, and watching for correction of the PT and PTT
● Various disease states hereditary or otherwise, contribute to clotting factor deficiencies
disorders of Primary Hemostasis are
those disorders that deal with ____
low platelet count or some
form of platelet dysfunction.
PT and PTT should be normal in disorders of ____ hemostasis
primary
Thrombocytopenia simply means low ____
Platelet count
Thrombocytopenia can be due to either
○ Decreased Platelet production
○ Enhanced Platelet destruction
Pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia - Examples of Decreased Production of Platelets-
■ Bone marrow failure (ex: Aplastic Anemia)
■ Malignant infiltration of the the bone marrow
■ Exposure to some meds, chemotherapy, or radiation
■ Significant nutritional deficiencies
Pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia - Examples of Increased Destruction of Platelets
■ Immune Thrombocytopenia (ex: ITP)
■ Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
■ Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC)
■ Hypersplenism (ex: Related to cirrhosis, lymphoma)
■ Septicemia
Thrombocytopenia Exam and Lab Findings:
○ If significant Thrombocytopenia, Petechiae, Purpura, or
Ecchymosis may develop with little or no explanation.
○ Platelet count will be low on CBC.
____ are flat, red, pinhead-sized lesions
that can appear anywhere on the body
but more likely to be seen in dependent
areas. They do not blanch with pressure.
Petechiae
____ is the coalescence of
petechiae on the surface of the skin.
They are nonpalpable and are more of a
purple color. They also do not blanch.
Dry Purpura
The finding of purpura on mucous
membranes (rather than the skin) is
sometimes referred to as ____
Wet Purpura
This is generally considered to be a sign
for more serious bleeding as platelet
counts are typically very low in order for
wet purpura to occur.
Thrombocytopenia: Treatment and Management
○ Treatment obviously depends on the
underlying condition causing the
Thrombocytopenia.
An acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by isolated
thrombocytopenia, maybe without an apparent cause
ITP
● Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (previously called “idiopathic”)
What is this
Wet purpura
Epidemiology of ITP
● Occurs predominantly in young children; peak incidence is between 2 and 5 years of age.
● Can occur in adulthood as well, usually more insidious.
○ Usually between 20-50 years of age
ITP Pathophysiology
○ An antibody is inappropriately produced that binds to surface antigens GPIIb/IIa and others
○ The antibody-coated platelets are then bound by a splenic macrophage and destroyed in the spleen → Shortened half life
■ Thrombocytopenia occurs as a result of accelerated splenic destruction of the platelets.
Primary vs secondary ITP
Primary ITP: Acquired immune thrombocytopenia without an apparent
cause
Secondary ITP: ITP associated with another condition with an inciting event
ITP: Characteristic Signs and Symptoms
bleeding, spontaneous bruising, epistaxis,
gingival, with platelet counts 10,000 - 20,000/mcL
○ Adult women may have menorrhagia.
○ Intracranial hemorrhage is an infrequent occurrence, but it is
the most common cause of death among patients with ITP.
Diagnostic testing for ITP
○ Hallmark is Isolated Thrombocytopenia.
■ If other abnormalities on CBC, likely not ITP
■ If bleeding has occurred, sure, may have anemia
○ PT/INR and PTT are normal.
○ Bone Marrow biopsy may show increased number of Megakaryocytes
ITP Treatment:
○ Avoidance of trauma, NSAIDs, and Aspirin.
○ Childhood ITP is usually self-limited and often does not require treatment.
○ Short course of Steroids is usually the mainstay of treatment
○ Platelet transfusion can be given in severe hemorrhage
○ Relapse can occur, rituximab and TPO mimetics in refractory cases
○ Splenectomy reserved for persistent, chronic cases (risks?)
TTP
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
● Uncommon condition that was mysterious and usually fatal only 15-20 years ago.
○ Can still be acutely life-threatening
● Characterized by Thrombocytopenia, Hemolytic Anemia, and Impairment of Renal function.
○ Considered a Microangiopathic Hemolysis
Pathophysiology of TTP
○ It’s believed the disease occurs due to the
presence of “high molecular weight
multimers of vWF.”
○ The high molecular weight vWF seems to
tether clumps of platelets to endothelial
surfaces sporadically.