Coagulation Flashcards
Normal Platelet Count
150,000-300,000
How are platelets formed?
Platelets are formed in the bone marrow from large bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes. The dominant hormone controlling megakaryocyte development is thrombopoietin.
Conditions that Cause Increased Platelets
-Active bleeding (surgery, infection, trauma) -Polycythemia Vera -Postsplenectomy -Myeloproliferative diseases (chronic myeloid leukemia, other blood cancers)
Conditions that Cause Decreased Platelets
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, Drugs (ACEIs, Apap, Allopurinol, Anti-arrhythmics, antibiotics, diuretics, NSAIDs), EDTA-Dependent Agglutination
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Systemic activation of blood coagulation, which results in generation and deposition of fibrin, leading to microvascular thrombi in various organs and contributing to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.
DIC Causes
Always secondary to an underlying disorder, generally involving systemic inflammation. Sepsis, trauma, organ destruction, malignancy, transfusion reaction, obstetric complications, vascular abnormalities, liver failure, toxic reactions, heat stroke.
DIC Pathophysiology
- Tissue factor mediated thrombin generation 2. Dysfunctional anticoagulant mechanisms 3. Impaired fibrin removal, however fibrinolytic activity may be increased and contribute to bleeding 4. Inflammatory activation
DIC Presentation
Bleeding, Petechiae and ecchymosis, Thrombosis, Renal failure, Respiratory symptoms, Neurologic changes, Hypotension, Tachycardia
DIC Workup
- Thrombocytopenia
- Schistocytes
- Prolonged coagulation times (PT/PTT)
- Elevated D-dimer
- Fibrinogen may be low
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood disorder characterized by clotting in small blood vessels of the body (thromboses), resulting in a low platelet count.
TTP Signs and Symptoms
- Neurologic manifestations (change in mental status, seizures, hemiplegia, paresthesias, visual disturbance, aphasia)
- Fatigue
- Petechiae
TTP Workup
- Normal or elevated WBC count
- Hemoglobin concentration 8-9 g/dL
- Platelet count 20-50,000
- Schistocytosis
- PT/PTT normal
- D-dimer and fibrinogen may be elevated
TTP Treatment
Total plasma exchange
Normal Prothrombin Time (Used to monitor coumadin therapy)
11-14 seconds
Evaluates extrinsic and common pathway
Prothrombin Time Increased
Liver disease, coumadin therapy, antibiotics, DIC, hereditary factor deficiencies (II, V, VII, X), massive blood transfusions, vitamin K deficiency.
Normal Partial Thromboplastin Time (Used to monitor heparin therapy)
26-34 seconds
Evaluates intrinsic and common clotting pathway.
PTT Increased
Deficiency in coagulation factors in the intrinsic pathway (hemophilia) except factor 13.
DIC Nonspecific inhibitor (lupus anticoagulant)
Heparin therapy, coumadin, antibiotics, aspirin
Vitamin K deficiency
Liver disease
Normal Fibrinogen Level
150-400 mg/dl
Fibrinogen
Acute phase reactant synthesized in the liver, involved in forming the clot in secondary hemostasis.
Fibrinogen Increased
Inflammatory status, smoking, pregnancy, malignancy, nephrotic syndrome.
Fibrinogen Decreased
Liver disease, DIC, thrombolytic Rx (atenolol, cholesterol-lowering meds, corticosteroids, thrombolytics), hereditary dysfibrinogenemia, transfusion
Normal D-Dimer Level
Less than 500
D-Dimer
Represents fibrin degradation of a blood clot after fibrinolysis
D-Dimer Increased
DVT, DIC, PE, recent surgery, sepsis, malignancy
D-Dimer High Sensitivity/Low specificity
A negative result rules out PE, DVT, but a positive does not confirm the diagnosis.
Normal WBC
1-10,000/mm3
Normal RBC
3.5-5.0 million/mm3
Normal Hgb
12-17
HCT
36-52%
MCV
82-94 fl
MCH
27-31 pg
MCHC
32-35%
RDW
10-12.5%
RBCs Elevated
Dehydration, Polycythemia Vera and other bone marrow disorders, hypoxia, high altitude
RBCs Decreased
Anemias, hemolysis, hemoglobinopathies, ETOH abuse, chronic renal failure, hemorrhage, iron deficiency anemia, liver disease, megaloblastic anemia, reticulocytosis.
MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume)
A measure of the average volume of a RBC. Helpful for characterizing anemias. High: alcohol abuse, liver disease, megaloblastic anemia, reticulocytosis, sperocytosis. Low: Anemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency anemia, sickle cell, thalassemia.
MCH (Mean Corpuscular Hgb)
The amount of Hgb per RBC. Hgb/RBC. High: alcohol abuse, liver dz, megaloblastic anemia. Low: anemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia.
MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hgb Concentration)
The hemoglobin concentration per red cell. Hgb/Hct. Low: Anemia of chronic disease, thalassemia. High: hemolysis, spherocytosis
RDW
Measurement of variation in RBC size and shape. Assists in differentiating iron deficiency anemia from other microcytic anemias. High in ETOH abuse, hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, megaloblastic anemia, mixed anemias, reticulocytosis.
Anisocytosis
RBCs of unequal size. Commonly found in anemia
Poikilocytosis
Abnormally shaped RBCs. Dacrocytes (teardrop), elliptocytes, codocytes (target cells), Schistocytes (helmut cells)
Mature WBCs
Neutrophils (55-70%) Lymphocytes (30-45%) Monocytes (1-10%) Eosinophils (2-5%) Basophils (0-1%)
Immature WBCs
Band forms Metamyelocyte Myelocyte Blasts