Disorders of Platelets and Coagulation Flashcards
What are endothelial cells?
Flattened cells that line blood vessels and have pro and anticoagulant properties
What are the functions of endothelial cells?
Normally anticoagulant inhibiting coagulation and platelet aggregation
Act as a barrier to sub-endothelial collagen which is procoagulant
What produced Von Willebrand’s Factor (vWF)?
Endothelium and platelets
Where is vWF stored?
Weibel Palade bodies
Where is vWF located?
On sub-endothelial surface
When is vWF released and what is its function?
Early in the haemostatic process and is responsible for platelet adhesion to collagen
What do platelets look like?
Small discoid anuclear cells found in the circulation, 3-5um, pale basophilic with small red granules
Where do platelets originate from?
Megakaryocytes in the bone marrow during a process called thrombopoiesis
What mediates platelet production?
Thrombopoietin
How long do platelets circulate for?
5-9 days in most species
What is the functional structure of platelets?
Outer membrane has receptors important for adhesion and aggregation
Cytoplasm has actin and myosin allowing shape change
What are the two different types of granules in platelets?
Alpha granules (red) that contain vWF, fibrinogen and factors V and VII Dense granules which contain ADP and calcium
What glycoprotein receptors are associated with platelet membrane?
GP Ib binds vWF
GP IIbIIIa binds fibrinogen on adjacent platelets and allows platelets to aggregate
What happens if there are defects in receptors?
Abnormal platelet function and clot formation occurs
What is primary haemostasis?
Formation of the primary platelet plug
What is the first step in primary haemostasis?
Damage to the endothelium and exposure of sub-endothelial collagen results in vWF release
What is the second step in primary haemostasis?
Platelet adhesion occurs and platelets bind to collagen via receptor GP Ib and vWF from the endothelium
What is the third step in primary haemostasis?
Platelets undergo shape change and become spherical with filipodia which exposes additional GP Ib and GP IIbIIIa
What is the fourth step in primary haemostasis?
Platelets bind fibrinogen via GP IIbIIIa between adjacent platelets forming a clump/aggregate of platelets
Where is fibrinogen generated from?
Coagulation cascade
What is the fifth step in primary haemostasis?
Aggregating platelets rapidly degranulate releasing ADP, fibrinogen and vWF as well as thromboxane A2 from the platelet membrane which increase platelet adhesion and aggregation
What is the final step in primary haemostasis?
Platelets release factors V and VIII which are involved in coagulation
What is secondary haemostasis?
Activation of the coagulation cascade simultaneously with platelet plug formation
What are the different pathways the coagulation cascade split into?
Intrinsic, extrinsic and common pathways but only for lab testing purposes not in vivo
What is the function of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade?
Initiates coagulation cascade and is most important in vivo
What is the process of extrinsic pathway of coagulation cascade?
Tissue factor is released from damaged tissue binds to and activates FVII in the presence of calcium
TFFVII complex activates FX of the common pathway and FIX of the intrinsic pathway
What is the function of the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade?
Amplifies the coagulation cascade
What is the process of intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade?
FXII is activated by contact with a negatively charged surface (co factor HMWK)
Activated FXII cleaves and activates FXI which in turn activates FIX which requires calcium
Activated FIX in turn activates FX of the common pathway
What is the process of the common pathway of the coagulation cascade?
Starts with activation of FX which binds activated FV and calcium on the platelet surface which converts prothrombin (FII) to thrombin (FIIa)
Thrombin converts fibrinogen (FI) to fibrin (FIa) and fibrin is cross-linked by activated FXIII
What is the importance of inhibitors of coagulation?
Required for a balanced clotting reaction only where it is required
What is the function of antithrombin III?
Inhibits thrombin and activated FX and is increased by heparin from the endothelium
What is the function of protein C?
Inactivates FV and FVIII
What is the process of fibrinolysis?
Enzymatic breakdown of fibrin by plasmin which is derived from plasminogen found in the platelet membrane and plasma
What does plasmin do?
Degrades both fibrinogen and fibrin to produce fibrin degredation products (FDPs)
How is platelet concentration calculated?
Automated count that can be done on platelets collected into EDTA as part of a CBC
In which species is platelet concentration inaccurate? Why?
Cats, sheep and goats as there is an overlap between RBC and platelet size
What other artefact can cause platelet concentration calculation inaccuracies?
Platelet clumps
In which species is an estimated platelet count from blood smear recommended?
Cats and CKCS
How few platelets indicate thrombocytopaenia?
< 100x10^9/L
How low do platelet numbers need to be for spontaneous haemorrhage to occur?
25x10^9/L
How many platelets do patients need to be diagnosed with thrombocytosis?
> 1000x10^9/L
What is the risk of thrombocytosis?
Increased risk of thrombi forming
What is measured in buccal mucosal bleeding time?
Length of time for a platelet plug to form evaluated primary haemostasis and platelet formation
How is a buccal mucosal bleeding time calculated?
Using a spring loaded cassette to make a small incision in the buccal mucosa and blood is blotted until bleeding stops
In which diseases is the buccal mucosal bleeding time altered?
Decreased in thrombocytopaenia
Prolonged with von Willebrands disease and disorders of platelet function
What can happen if platelet numbers are decreased or their function is impaired?
Haemorrhage in the form of eccymoses or petechiae