Bleeding disorders Flashcards
What are the components of the blood haemolytic system? (3)
Plasma coagulation factors
Platelets
Blood vessel wall
What are the main 4 steps of the blood haemostatic system?
- Trigger
- Primary haemostasis
- Thrombin generation
- Thrombin consolidates clot formation
Explain the steps of the blood haemolytic system (7)
STEP 1: TRIGGER
- Collagen and tissue factor exposed
- Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) binds to collagen
STEP2: Primary haemostasis
- Platelets adhere to vWF-collagen
- Platelets activate and aggregate.
STEP 3: Thrombin generation
5. TF initiates rapid thrombin generation on activated platelets
Step 4: Thrombin consolidates clot formation
- Thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin and completes platelet activation.
- Stable fibrin-platelet clot is formed.
END PRODUCT: Stable cross-linked clot
What causes thrombin production?
Tissue factors exposed to coagulation factors
What is primary haemostasis?
When platelets adhere to vWF-collagen and platelets activate and aggregate.
What can go wrong with the coagulation pathway? (2)
- Abnormal primary haemostasis
> Reduced platelet number or function
> Reduced Von Willebrand factor - Abnormal coagulation pathway?
> Reduced clotting factors (e.g. factor VIII)
Is abnormal skin bleeding a primary haemostasis or coagulation disorder?
Primary haemostasis
Is deep tissues bleeding a primary haemostasis or a coagulation disorder?
Coagulation disorder
What are the patterns of bleeding for primary haemostasis disorders? (5)
- Petechiae/bruising
- Epistaxis
- Gum bleeding
- Menorrhagia
- GI/CNS bleeds
What are the patterns of bleeding for coagulation factor disorders? (3)
- Bleeds into joints
- Soft tissue bleeds
- CNS/GI bleeds
How do you identify people with abnormal haemostasis? (2)
- Clinical Evaluation
> Bleeding history is very sensitive to underlying bleeding disorders.- after previous dental procedures or surgery
- after minor trauma
> Family history of bleeding
> General medical history
> Drug history
- Laboratory evaluation
- Full blood count
> platelet count (but not platelet function) - Clotting screen
> ‘PT’ and ‘aPTT’ indicate whether coagulation factors are functioning.
How does the full blood count check for bleeding disorders?
Looks at platelet count (not function)
How does a clotting screen check for bleeding disorders?
What is PT?
What is aPTT?
What would be shown if there is abnormal function of coagulation factors?
PT = prothrombin time aPTT = activated partial thromboplastin time
these indicate if coagulation factors are functioning
abnormal function usually gives increased PT and/or increased aPTT
What is INR and what does it show?
INR = international normalised ratio
ratio of patient PT to ‘normal’ PT
Why do you have to be careful with laboratory evaluation? (3)
> not all bleeding disorders cause abnormal FBC, PT or aPTT.
> abnormal FBC, PT or aPTT doesn’t necessarily mean bleeding
> further specialist tests are always required to make specific diagnosis
e.g. Factors assays. Factor VIII down so Factor VIII deficiency (Haemophilia A)