Blood Coagulation, Haemostasis & It's Investigation Flashcards
What is haemostasis?
Protective process evolved in order to maintain a stable physiology
Protective process evolved in order to maintain a stable physiology
How does infection relate to haemostasis?
Infection is an important initiator of haemostasis
Infection can change balance of haemostasis to either form clot
How is haemostasis maintained?
Haemostasis maintained in fine balance - microenvironments require clotting and other compartments require it to remain fluid
Describe a condition where infection leads to clotting
E.g. meningococcal septicemia
Causes infarction - dead tissue where blood supply is lost due to thrombus
Clots form in arterial supply of organs => tissue damage
Explain why meningococcal septicemia causes clotting
Coagulation occurs in an attempt to prevent blood flow containing infection to vital organs e.g. heart, liver
What is meningococcal septicemia?
Infarction of skin, blood rash, necrotic hand
What are the role of haemostasis?
Respond to tissue injury
Curtail blood loss
Restore vascular integrity & promote healing
Limit infection
What are the 4 key components of haemostasis?
Endothelium
Coagulation
Platelets
Fibrinolysis
Describe a blood clot blood film
Fibrin mesh - helps strengthen clot
Platelets - v small non nucleated
Red blood cells present
Outline how haemostasis occurs
- Vessel endothelial damage & Blood Loss
- Vascular Spasm causing vasoconstriction to limit blood
flow - Platelet plug forms - platelets run along periphery of
laminar flow, bouncing along endothelial wall and
adhere to site of damage - Coagulation due to fibrin
What are the 3 phases of the haemostatic system?
- primary haemostasis
- secondary haemostasis
- fibrinolysis
Outline the events of primary haemostasis
Primary haemostasis:
- Vasoconstriction (immediate)
- Platelet adhesion (within seconds)
- Platelet aggregation and contraction (within minutes)
What occurs during secondary haemostasis
Secondary haemostasis:
- Activation of coagulation factors (within seconds)
- Formation of fibrin (within minutes)
Describe what happens during fibrinolysis
Activation of fibrinolysis (within minutes)
Lysis of the plug (within hours)
What are the phases of clot formation?
- Initiation
- Amplification
- Stable clot
- Lysis
Why does fibrinolysis occur at the end of haemostasis?
Fibrinolysis occurs at the end because in order to regenerate tissue we want to remove the clot
Describe haemostasis at rest
Triggers and cofactors separated
Lumen of blood vessel containing platelets and clotting factors (VIIa)
What happens when endothelial damage occurs?
When endothelial damage occurs, subendothelial surface is exposed to flowing blood
What is the consequence of exposed subendothelial surface?
Exposed subendothelial surface introduces collagen and tissue factor to flowing blood (is otherwise hidden from blood)
How does subendothelial exposure allow healing and a clot to form?
Platelets recognise damaged area and adhere to exposed underlying collagen