Clinical Notes - Hemostasis

Question 1

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 1

Reduced number of platelets in blood circulation
Have tendency to bleed
Causes: viral infections; bone marrow depression; drug reactions; hypersplenism
Treatment: infusion of fresh blood or platelet conc. Or splenectomy

Question 2

Thrombocytopenic pupura

Answer 2

Purpulish spots beneath the skin due to spontaneous bleeding

Bleeding time is prolonged but clotting time is normal.

Question 3

Thrombasthenic purpura

Answer 3

This is a condition with normal platelet count but the circulating platelets are abnormal.

Question 4

Hemophilia

Answer 4

Due to deficiency of factor VIII
Sex linked hereditary disease. Occurs on males females are carriers. Bleeding tendencies after minor trauma
Diagnosis: CT is prolonged; BT is normal; soft clot formation
Treatment: blood transfusion; injection of purified factor VIII

Question 5

Vitamin K deficiency

Answer 5

Vit k is necessary for formation of five clotting factors-prothrombin, VII, IX, X and protein C-in liver
Causes: dieases of liver such as hepatitis and cirrosis; obstructive jaundice; chronic diarrheal diseases

Question 6

Afibrinogenema

Answer 6

Deficiency of fibrinogen. Can occur due to genetic defect, and prostatic cancer. Treatment is supplementation of fibrinogen through injections or fresh blood transfusion

Question 7

Von Willebrand disease

Answer 7

Hereditary disease inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. It occurs in both sexes. Individuals affected by this condition have symptoms of mild haemophilia. In women, symptoms of menorrhagia are common

Question 8

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Answer 8

This serious complication is due to septicema. DIC is caused due to increased formation of thrombin. In this condition, fibrin is deposited in bv causing thrombosis in small and medium sized vessels.