CH4 - Hemostasis and Related Disorders Flashcards
What is hemostatsis?
Sealing break in blood vessel wall
Hemostasis involves the formation of?
a thrombus (clot) at the site of vessel injury
What are the 2 stages of Hemostasis?
primary and secondary
Primary hemostasis?
forms a weak platelet plug
Primary hemostasis is mediated by?
interaction between platelets and the vessel wall
Purpose of secondary hemostasis?
stabilizing platelet plug
Secondary hemostasis is mediated by?
the coagulation cascade.
What is 1st in primary hemostasis?
Transient vasoconstriction of damaged vessel
How is 1st step in primary hemostasis mediated?
by reflex neural stimulation and endothelin release from endothelial cells
What is 2nd step in primary hemostasis?
Platelet adhesion to the surface of disrupted vessel
In the 2nd step of primary hemostasis, how does platelet adhesion occur?
Von Willebrand factor (vWF) binds exposed subendothelial collagen,
How do platelets bind to vWF?
via the GPIb receptor on platelets
vWF originates from?
primarily Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells but also alpha-granules of platelets.
What is the 3rd step in primary hemostasis?
Platelet degranulation
In 3rd step of primary hemostasis what does Adhesion induce?
shape change in platelets and degranulation with release of multiple mediators
What are the mediators released in step 3 of primary hemostasis?
ADP and TXA2
What is the role of ADP in step 3 of secondary hemostasis?
it is released from platelet dense core granules; promotes exposure of GPIIb/IIIa recept ors on platelet surface
What is the role of TXA2 in step 3 of secondary hemostasis?
it is synthesized by platelet cyclooxygenase (COX) and released; promotes platelet aggregation
What is the 4th step in primary hemostasis?
Platelet aggregation
Where and how do Platelets aggregate in step 4 of primary hemostasis?
at the site of injury via GPIIb/IIIa using fibrinogen (from plasma) as a linking molecule;
What does platelet aggregation result in?
formation of platelet plug
is Platelet plug strong?
It is weak; coagulation cascade (secondary hemostasis) stabilizes it.
What are disorders of primary hemostasis usually due to?
Usually due to abnormalities in platelets;
Disorders of primary hemostasis are divided into?
quantitative (not enough platelets) or qualitative (enough platelets but of poor quality) disorders
What are some Clinical features for disorders of primary hemostasis?
mucosal and skin bleeding.
What is the most common overall symptom in mucosal bleeding?
epistaxis
Feared Complication of Severe Thrombocytopenia
Intracranial bleeding
What are symptoms of mucosal bleeding?
epistaxis, hemoptysis, GI bleeding, hematuria, and menorrhagia. Intracranial bleeding occurs with severe thrombocytopenia.
How does skin bleeding present?
include petechiae (1-2 mm), purpura (> 3 mm), ecchymoses(> 1 cm), and easy bruising;
Do petechiae, ecchymoses, and purpura blanch when pressed?
NO
Petechiae are a sign of what?
thrombocytopenia and are not usually seen with qualitative disorders.
What are some useful laboratory studies for disorders of primary hemostasis?
platelet count, bleeding time, blood smear, bone marrow biopsy
Platelet count
normal 150,000-400,000/μL; < 50,000/μL leads to symptoms,
Bleeding time
normal 2-7 minutes; prolonged with quantitative and qualitative platelet disorders. Considered Outdated test.
Blood smear
used to assess number and size of platelets
Bone marrow biopsy
used to assess megakaryocytes, which produce platelets, to figure out if megakaryocyte dysfunction causing thrombocytopenia
What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura?
(ITP) is an autoimmune production of IgG against platelet antigens (GPIIb/IIIa)
What is the most common cause of thrombocytopenia in children and adults?
immune thrombocytopenic purpura
In ITP what leads to thrombocytopenia?
Antibody-bound platelets are consumed by macrophages in the spleen
ITP is divided into?
acute and chronic forms
Acute form of ITP?
arises in children weeks after a viral infection or immunization;
Antibodies formed against platelet antigen
How is acute ITP treated
Corticosteroids
It is a self-limited disorder, usually resolving within weeks of presentation. If platelet count goes down significantly in the mean time, support patient with platelet transfusion?
Who gets Chronic ITP?
arises in adults, usually women of chilbearing age. May be primary (unknown cause) or secondary (e.g SLE).
What are the causes of Chronic ITP?
Primary (Unknown) or Secondary (e.g. SLE since these patients usually have Ab against one of their blood cells, whether it’s RBC’s, WBC’s, or Platelets )
What is the risk involved for women with chronic ITP?
May cause short-lived thrombocytopenia in fetus during pregnancy and soon after birth since antiplatelet IgG can cross the placenta. This would resolve quickly as the mom’s IgG lingering would be consumed shortly after birth.
Platelet Count in ITP
<50,000/µL
PT/PTT in ITP
Normal because coagulation factors (the convert fibrinogen to fibrin) not affected
What will bone marrow biopsy show in ITP
Increased megakaryocytes (hyperplasia in response to thrombocytopenia)
What is the Initial treatment for ITP?
corticosteroids
How will children and adults respond to steroids for ITP?
Children respond well to steroids; adults may show early response, but often relapse.
In addition to corticosteroids what else is an emergency treatment for ITP if pt starts bleeding from multiple sites and you are afraid that intracranial bleeding is next?
IVIG is given to temporarily raise the platelet count in symptomatic bleeding
How does IVIG provide emergency relief for ITP
Splenic Macrophages are overwhelmed by IVIG, consuming them rather than native Ab’s bound to platelets -> short-lived increase in platelets
What is a permenant solution for patients with ITP?
Splenectomy
How does Splenectomy help in refractory cases of ITP?
1) Helps eliminates the plasma cells that were producing Anti-platelet Ab’s (b/c spleen together with lymph nodes are the secondary lymphoid organs)
2) Eliminates the spleen, which was the site of platelet destruction by Macrophages
What is microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?
A set of disorders with Pathologic formation of platelet microthrombi in small vessels (Micro-angio)
Why do platelet microthrombi cause bleeding?
Platelets are consumed in the formation of microthrombi->thrombocytopenia
How do platelet microthrombi cause hemolysis/anemia?
By sheering passing RBC’s
What evidence does blood smear provide for Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia?
Schistocytes (RBC’s that were sheared by microthrombi)
Which 2 diseases result in microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
What is the origin of the name TTP
Thrombotic -> platelet microthrombi form
Thrombocytopenia -> Low platelets because platelets are consumer in microthrombi formation
Purpura -> Resultant skin bleeding
What is decreased in TTP?
decreased ADAMTS13 (enzyme that normally cleaves vWF multimers into monomers for eventual degradation)
How does TTP lead to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?
- Large, uncleaved multimers lead to abnormal platelet adhesion, resulting in microthrombi.
Why do microthrombi form in TTP?
vWF polymers accumulate, linking subendothelial collagen to platelets ->abnormal accumulation of platelets
Decreased ADAMTS13 is usually due to what?
an acquired autoantibody (Anti-ADAMTS13 Ab) secondary to autoimmune process.
Inherited mutation far less likely.
TTP is most commonly seen in?
adult females (auto-immune production of Anti-ADMTS13 Ab)
What is the origin of the name HUS?
Hemolytic (microthrombi form and shear RBC’s (hemolysis) -> schistocytes)
Uremia -> Implies damage to kidneys -> Uremia because body cannot effectively clear toxins
Why do patients get platelet microthrombi in HUS?
endothelial damage by verotoxin from Infection with E. coli O157:H7
or endothelial damage from toxic medication
How is E Coli related to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?
E coli produces a verotoxin which damages endothelial cells and lowering ADAMTS13 ->resulting in platelet microthrombi in kidney and brain -> hemolysis
HUS is classically seen in?
children with E coli O157:H7 who ate undercooked beef
How do children with HUS present?
present with dysentery (mucosy diarrhea with blood + fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation)
The clinical findings for HUS and TTP include
- Skin and mucosal bleeding (due to thrombocytopenia)
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
- Fever (secondary to inflammation)
- Renal insufficiency (predominantly in HUS -> think UREMIC) (because affects small vessels of kidney AND….
- CNS abnormalities (Predominantly in TTP) (brain)
Renal insufficiency is more common in HUS or TTP?
HUS ? thrombi involve vessels of the kidney->Uremia
CNS abnormalities are more common in HUS or TTP?
TTP ? Thrombi involve vessels of the CNS
Laboratory findings for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia include?
Thrombocytopenia
increased bleeding time
Normal PT/PTT (coagulation cascade is not activated, only platelets accumulating)
Anemia with schistocytes
Increased megakaryocytes on bone marrow biopsy (in response to thrombocytopenia)
Treatment for TTP?
Plasmapheresis (removes proteins, including Anti-ADAMTS13 Ab)
Corticosteroids lead to decreased production of Anti-ADAMTS13 Ab by plasma b cells.
Treatment for HUS
Supportive with IV fluids
Blood transfusion if significant anemia
Temporary dialysis if kidney failure.
What are the qualitative platelet disorders?
Bernard-soulier, Glanzmann thrombasthenia, asprin, uremia
Bernard-Soulier syndrome
is due to a genetic GPIb deficiency; platelet adhesion to vWF (linker molecule from platelet to subendothelial collagen) is impaired
In Bernard-Soulier what lab test are you interested in?
Blood smear which shows mild thrombocytopenia (GP1B deficient platelets have shorter life) with enlarged platelets (Big Suckers mnemonic->due to megakaryocytes pumping out slightly premature bigger platelets).
Glanzmann thrombasthenia is due to?
a genetic GPIIb/IIIa deficiency-> platelet aggregation is impaired.
Which step is compromized in Glazmann thrombasthenia?
AGGREGATION
How can Aspirin cause qualitative problems with platelets?
it irreversibly inactivates cyclooxygenase-> lack of TXA production-> impairs aggregation because TXA normally attracts platelets to the site of injury
How can Uremia lead to qualitative problems with platelets?
(BUILDUP OF NITROGENOUS WASTE PRODUCTS secondary to kidney damage-> disrupts platelet function by interfering with both adhesion and aggregation
What does secondary hemostasis do?
Stabilizes the weak platelet plug via the coagulation cascade
In secondary hemostasis the coagulation cascade generates?
thrombin (Factor 2), which converts fibrinogen in the platelet plug to fibrin
In secondary hemostasis what happens to fibrin?
It is cross-linked, yielding a stable platelet-fibrin thrombus.
What is the metaphor for the platelet-fibrin-thrombus?
A band-aid that covers the broken blood vessel
Where are the factors of the coagulation cascade produced?
liver (in inactive state)
What happens to the inactive coagulation factors produced by the liver?
hepatocytes release them into the blood where they float around until activated
What do the endothelial cells that form blood vessel sit on?
basement membrane
What does activation of coagulation factors require?
exposure to an activating substance
Phospholipid surface (surface Plasma Membrane of platelets)
calcium (released by dense core granules of platelets)
What are the activating substances involved in the activation of the factors of the coagulation cascade?
Tissue thromboplastin (TT) activates factor VII (extrinsic pathway) (Measured PT) (Tx with WRferin) *mnemonic 2 letters each
Sub-Endothelial collagen (SEC )activates factor XII (intrinsic pathway). (measured by PTT) (Treat ith HEP) *mnemonic 3x1x letters each
Where does the Calcium involved in the activation of the factors of the coagulation cascade come from?
derived from platelet dense core granules
Disorders of secondary hemostasis are usually due to?
factor abnormalities
What are the clinical features of disorders of secondary hemostasis?
they include deep tissue bleeding into muscles and joints (hemarthrosis)
rebleeding after surgical procedures (e.g circumcision and wisdom tooth extraction)
While disorders of Primary hemostasis caused skin bleeding
Laboratory studies for Disorders of secondary hemostasis include?
PT (prothrombin time) and PTT (partial thromboplastin time)
Prothrombin time (PT)
measures extrinsic (factor VII) and common (factors II, V, X, and fibrinogen) pathways of the coagulation cascade
Extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade
factor VII
Why do you follow Warfarin (Coumadin) with PT?
Because PT is more sensitive because Factor 7 has the shortest half-life,
el
Relying on PTT where one would have to wait for all factors 8 and 9 to run out to find out if it is working, would over-compromise Secondary hemostasis (because 7 would already be exhausted) and could lead to dangerous bleeds
Common pathway of the coagulation cascade
factors II, V, X, and fibrinogen