Circulatory Pathology Flashcards
Edema (Definition)
- Presence of excess fluid in the intercellular space
- Anasarca is severe generalized edema
- Effusion is fluid within body cavities
Edema (Causes)
- Increased hydrostatic pressure: congestive heart failure, portal hypertension, renal retention of salt and water, and venous thrombosis
- Hypoalbuminemia and decreased colloid osmotic pressure: liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, and protein deficiency like kwashiorkor
- Lymphatic obstruction (lymphedema): tumor, following surgical removal of lymph nodes and parasitic infestation (filariasis)
- Increased endothelial permeability: inflammation, hypersensitivity type I and some drugs like bleomycin and heroin
- Increased interstitial sodium: increased sodium intake, primary hyperaldosteronism and renal failure
- Increased extracellular glycosaminoglycans: pretibial myxedema and exophthalmos (Graves disease)
Causes of Non-pitting Edema
- Lymphatic obstruction
- Pretibial myxedema
Exudate vs Transudate (Appearance)
- E: thick and cloudy (cellular)
- T: thin and clear (hypocellular)
Exudate vs Transudate (Protein, LDH, and specific gravity)
- E: Increased protein and LDH (vs serum) and specific gravity more than 1.020
- T: Decreased protein and LDH (vs serum) and specific gravity less than 1.012
Exudate (Causes)
- Lymphatic obstruction (chylous)
- Inflammation/Infection
- Malignancy
Transudate (Causes)
- Increased hydrostatic pressure like HF and sodium retention
- Decreased oncotic pressure like in cirrhosis, and nephrotic syndrome
Myxedema fluid contents
- Hyaluronic acid
- Chondroitin sulfate
Active Hyperemia (Mechanism)
- Active process
- Vasodilation mediated by:
- Vasoactive mediators
- Hormones
- Neurogenic reflexes
Active Hyperemia (Examples)
- Inflammation
- Exercise
- Blushing
Congestion (Mechanism)
- Passive process
- Decreased venous outflow
Congestion (Examples)
- Congestive heart failure
- Deep venous thrombosis
- Budd-Chiari syndrome
Glycoproteins (Integrins) of platelets activation
Location and Function
- GP Ib-IX-V: platelets. It’s a von Willebrand factor (vWF) receptor (Deficiency in Bernard-Soulier syndrome)
- GP VI: platelets. It’s a collagen I, III and VI receptor
- GP Ia/IIa: platelets. It’s a collagen I and IV receptor
- GP IIb/IIIa: platelets. It’s a fibrinogen receptor (Deficiency in Glanzmann Thrombasthenia)
- GP V/IIIa: mainly on endothelial cells but also on smooth muscle cells, macrophages and platelets. Adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix components (it is activated by GP VI)
Extrinsic (Tissue Factor) pathway of coagulation
Initiators, Final product, Components, Testing
- Tissue factor (thromboplastin or factor III)
- VIIa which in turn activates factor X of the common pathway
- Factors III and VII
- Prothrombin Time (PT) and International normalized ratio (INR) which can be calculated from PT
Intrinsic (Contact Activation) pathway of coagulation
Initiators, Final product, Components, Testing
- Collagen, platelets, high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK), prekallikerin and Hageman factor (XII)
- Tenase complex (factor VIIIa and IXa) which in turn activates factor X of the common pathway
- Factors XII, XI, IX, VIII
- activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) and Platelet Function Assay (PFT-100)
Common pathway of coagulation
Initiators, Final product, Components, Testing
- Factor VIIa and Tenase complex
- Thrombin (IIa) which in turn activates factors XI, VIII and V. also converts fibrinogen to fibrin and activates factor XIII to XIIIa
- Factors XIII, X, V, II (Prothrombin) and I (Fibrinogen)
- aPTT, PT and Thrombin clotting time (TCT) which is a qualitative and quantitative measurement of fibrinogen
Commonly used products or drugs to reduce major bleeding
- Prothrombin complex concentrate
- Cryoprecipitate
- Fresh Frozen Plasma
- Recombinant activated human factor VII
- Desmopressin
- Tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid (inhibit fibrinolysis)
- Aprotinin (inhibits fibrinolysis by inhibition of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin and kallekrin)
Heparin
Mechanism of action, Pathway affected, Test affected, Antidote
- Activates antithrombin III
- Intrinsic pathway
- aPTT (increased)
- Protamine sulfate
Warfarin
Mechanism of action, Pathway affected, Test affected, Antidote
- Inhibits vitamin K
- Extrinsic pathway
- PT (increased). The goal INR is 2.0-3.0 (2.5-3.5 in patients with mechanical valves)
- Vitamin K
Enoxaparin
Mechanism of action and Important notes
- It is a LMW heparin that inhibits factor Xa
- It does not have to be monitored in most situations
- Dosing is once or twice daily
Types of Bleeding
- Platelet bleeding which is superficial like epistaxis, gingival, petechiae, purpura and vaginal bleeding
- Factor bleeding which is deep like joints and muscles (hemarthrosis and hematomas)
Note: bleeding in the brain or GI tract can be either platelet or clotting factor deficiency
Thrombocytopenia (Causes)
- Decreased production:
- Aplastic anemia
- Tumor
- Increased destruction
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Hypersplenism
Platelet Qualitative Defects (Causes)
- von Willebrand disease
- Bernard-Soulier syndrome
- Glanzmann thrombasthenia
- Drugs (aspirin)
- Uremia
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Cause or Defect
IgG abs made by spleen against platelet antigens like GP IIb/IIIa and GP Ib-IX-V (hypersensitivity type II) and then the platelets are destroyed in the spleen by macrophages which have Fc receptors that bind IgG-coated platelets
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Presentation
- Petechiae, purpura (bruises), ecchymoses, nose bleeding and menorrhagia with no splenomegaly
- Acute: abrupt onset following viral infection which commonly affects children 2-6 years of age. males and females are affected equally
- Chronic: insidious onset not related to infection most commonly in women of childbearing age
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Association
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- SLE
- HIV
- HCV
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Diagnosis
- It’s a diagnosis of exclusion
- Low platelet count, increased BT with normal PT and aPTT
- Enlarged immature platelets (megathrombocytes) in peripheral blood smear
- Increased number of megakaryocytes with immature forms in bone marrow biopsy
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
Treatment
- No bleeding, count > 30,000: no treatment
- Mild bleeding, count < 30,000: Glucocorticoids
- Severe bleeding (GI/CNS), count < 10,000: IV immunoglobulins, Anti-Rho (anti-D)
- Recurrent episodes, steroid dependent: Splenectomy
- Splenectomy or steroids not effective: Romiplostim or Eltrombopag (both are synthetic thrombopoietin), rituximab, azathioprine, cyclosporin and mycophenolate
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Cause or Defect
Inhibition or deficiency of ADAMTS 13 (vWF metalloprotease that degrades vWF multimers) —> increase platelet adhesion, aggregation and thrombosis
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Association
- HIV
- Cancer
- Drugs like cyclosporine, ticlopidine and clopidogrel
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Presentation
Pentad of signs/symptoms:
- Low platelet count
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
- Neurologic symptoms (delirium, seizures, stroke)
- Impaired renal function
- Fever
Note: maintain high clinical suspicion if 3 of 5 are present especially the first 3
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Diagnosis
- Low platelet count and increased BT
- Schistocytes and fragmented RBCs on peripheral blood smear
- Rising creatinine is highly suggestive
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Treatment
- Urgent plasmapheresis
- Fresh frozen plasma
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Cause or Defect
Usually occur in children after gastroenteritis (bloody diarrhea) due to verotoxin producing E. coli 0157:H7 (EHEC) or Shigella
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Presentation
Triad of signs/symptoms:
- Low platelet count
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
- Impaired renal function
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Diagnosis
- Low platelet count and increased BT
- Schistocytes and fragmented RBCs on peripheral blood smear
- Severe elevation in creatinine levels are more typical for HUS
- Also note that fever and neurologic symptoms usually are not present in HUS
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Treatment
- Most cases from E. coli will resolve spontaneously
- In severe cases urgent plasmapheresis
von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD)
Cause or Defect
- Most common inherited bleeding disorder
(1% of population) - AD
- Deficient or defective vWF with low levels of factor VIII which is carried by vWF