Haematology - Clotting disorders Flashcards
3 stages of blood clot
□ Vasoconstriction from loss of normal vasodilator secretion of intact endothelium (eg. PGI2, NO)
□ 1o haemostasis: collagen exposure and loss of endothelium → triggers platelet activation → formation of platelet plug (unstable)
□ 2o haemostasis: activation of coagulation cascade → culminating in fibrin production → cross-link with platelet plug → producs stable fibrin clot followed by clot retraction and fibrosis healing
Agonists of platelet activation
Agonists:
→ Collagen from subendothelial structures
→ Thrombin from coagulation cascade
→ ADP, adrenaline, serotonin, calcium ionophore from platelet degranulation
Phases of platelet activation
Phases of activation:
Trigger: platelet activation agonist → ↓cAMP → ↑intracellular [Ca]
Shape change in cytoskeleton → open canalicular system ‘flips outward’ to provide large SA for coagulative cascade
Platelet aggregation by surface glycoproteins
Platelet degranulation → further ↑activation → +ve feedback
Function of degranulation and platelet aggregation
Granule contents:
Specific α-granules contain activators of coagulative cascade, eg. fibrinogen, factor V and XI, vWF, HMWK
Electron-dense (δ) granules contain platelet activation agonists, eg. ADP, ATP, serotonin, calcium
Function of platelet surface glycoproteins
Surface glycoproteins (GP): act as receptors for platelet adhesion/aggregation
Glycoprotein Ia/IIb and VI → mediates direct adhesion to collagen
Glycoprotein Ib → mediates vWF-dependent adhesion to collagen
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa → mediates vWF-dependent aggregation and association with fibrinogen
Outline the in-vivo cascade of coagulation
Two physiological phases of coagulation cascade in vivo
Initiation phase and Amplification phase
2 metrics to measure coagulation cascade
Prothrombin time (PT)
→ Activates coagulation cascade via extrinsic pathway
→ Measures activity of factor 7, Tissue Factor
Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT):
→ Activates coagulation cascade via intrinsic pathway
→ Measures activity of factor 8,9
Factor 10 is the final common pathway
Vascular defects causing bleeding disorder
Congenital vascular defects
- Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT, Osler-Weber-Rendu disease)
- Ehler-Danlos syndrome
Acquired vascular defects
- Purpura simplex in young ladies
- Senile purpura in those >65y (UL>LL due to sunlight exposure)
- Scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency
- Steroid purpura
- Vasculitis, eg. Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Congenital platelet defects
Qualitative, i.e. platelet dysfunction
- Defects of adhesion: *Bernard-Soulier syndrome (GPIb-IX defect)
- Defects of aggregation: Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia (GPIIb/IIIa defect)
- Defects of degranulation: Gray platelet syndrome (α-granule deficiency)
- Storage pool disease (δ-granule deficiency)
Quantitative, i.e. congenital thrombocytopenia
- Bernard-Soulier syndrome: thrombocytopenia with giant platelets
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: cytoskeleton mutation with immunodeficiency
- May-Hegglin anomaly: giant platelets with Dohle body-like neutrophilic inclusions due to myosin heavy chain mutation
- Congenital BM failure syndromes
Acquired platelet defects
Qualitative:
- Antiplatelet drugs: aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, NSAIDs
-
Uraemia (common):
(1) Uraemia → ↑NO production inhibit platelets
(2) Anaemia → altered blood rheology → ↓platelet contact with endothelium - MPN ± ↑PLT: platelet dysfunction due to platelet absorption of vWF
Quantitative:
↓production due to BM pathologies (e.g. Aplastic anaemia, Marrow infiltrative disease)
↑destruction: (e.g. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Drug-induced thrombocytopenia, Post-transfusion purpura, DIC and thrombotic microangiopathies (mixed)), Hypersplenism
Congenital coagulation defect
- Von Willebrand disease (vWD)
- Haemophilia A due to factor VIII deficiency
- Haemophilia B due to factor IX deficiency
Other very rare diseases (majority AR inheritance)
Factor VII deficiency → isolated ↑PT
Factor X deficiency → ↑PT + ↑aPTT
Fibrinogen deficiency → ↑PT, aPTT, TT
(Factor XII deficiency → isolated ↑aPTT)
Acquired coagulation defects
Vitamin K deficiency
- Cholestasis
- Hospitalized patients with malnutrition, malabsorption and Abx use (↓intestinal flora vitamin K production)
- Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn - HDN
Anticoagulant use
- Warfarin, DOAC, Heparin, LMWH
Liver disease with ↓production of clotting factors
DIC and thrombotic microangiopathies
Massive transfusion
Acquired inhibitors of coagulation: Acquired haemophilia A due to anti-factor VIII Ab; Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (aVWS)
How to differentiate between platelet disorder and coagulation disorder?
Platelet type: mucocutaneous bleeding (petechiae/purpura, epistaxis, tongue haematoma, GI bleed, menorrhagia) or continuous oozing after trauma
Coagulation type: deep-seated bleeding (muscle haematoma, haemarthrosis, ICH, retroperitoneal haematoma) or rebleeding after initial cessation
3 types of subcutaneous bleed with size cut-offs
Key questions in bleeding history
Pattern of current bleeding:
→ Platelet type: mucocutaneous bleeding (petechiae/purpura, epistaxis, tongue haematoma, GI bleed, menorrhagia) or continuous oozing after trauma
→ Coagulation type: deep-seated bleeding (muscle haematoma, haemarthrosis, ICH, retroperitoneal haematoma) or rebleeding after initial cessation
Prior/other bleeding:
→ Age of onset: congenital vs acquired, previous blood screening results
→ Previous bleeding challenges, eg. labour, surgery, dental procedures, injury
→ Other bleeding: head-to-toe bleeding history → ICH, epistaxis, gum bleeding, easy bruising or cutaneous petechiae/purpura, joint/muscle haematoma, GI bleeding, menstrual Hx
Systemic illnesses, eg. liver disease, kidney disease, connective tissue disease
Drug history esp on oral anticoagulant, fibrinolytic and antiplatelet use
Family history of clotting disorders: inherited vs sporadic/acquired
Outline physical examinations for abnormal bleeding
Physical examination: look for features of suspected conditions
Cutaneous: initially red/purple and later becoming yellow as haemoglobin is degraded
→ Bleeding: petechiae (<2mm, esp dependent areas), purpura (2-10mm), ecchymosis (>10mm)
→ Telangiectasiae around lips/fingertips → indicate HHT
→ Hyperelasticity → indicate Ehler-Danlos syndrome
Fundoscopy: retinal bleeding indicates ↑risk for CNS bleeding
Mouth: for gum bleeding and macroglossia (classical for amyloidosis)
Joints: for joint effusion (haemarthrosis) and deformities (chronic haemarthrosis)
LNs: for haematological malignancies
Abdomen:
→ Hepatosplenomegaly in liver disease, lymphoma, myeloproliferative neoplasm
→ Flank/abdominal mass may be retroperitoneal or abdominal haematoma respectively
Standard investigations for abnormal bleeding
CBC ± PBS for platelet count and platelet morphology
Clotting profile including PT and INR, aPTT (± TT)
Additional tests:
→ Platelet function tests and vWF function assay (Normal initial tests)
→ Specific clotting factor assays and mixing tests (haemophilia)
→ Fibrinogen, D-dimer (DIC or thrombotic microangiopathies)
Causes of thrombocytopenia with pancytopenia
Marrow hypoplasia*
- Congenital BM failure syndromes, eg. Fanconi anaemia, dyskeratosis congenita
- Aplastic anaemia (idiopathic and secondary)
- Transfusion-associated GvHD
Marrow infiltration*
- Myelofibrosis (primary, secondary)
- Malignant infiltration (haematological, non-haematological)
- Lysosomal storage disease, eg. Gaucher’s disease
Megaloblastic anaemia*
Infections
Sepsis-related haemophagocytosis (HLH) and BM suppression
Hypersplenism*
Platelet counts and bleeding risk
- Surgical bleeding
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Life-threatening bleeding
<100×109/L → risk of surgical bleeding for high-risk operations, eg. major cardiac or orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery
<50×109/L → risk of surgical bleeding for usual operations
<20×109/L → risk of spontaneous bleeding
<10×109/L → risk of life-threatening bleeding, eg. ICH
Investigations for thrombocytopenia
-
Repeat CBC (± use citrate tubes) to r/o platelet clumping
→ Pseudothrombocytopenia may occur esp with EDTA tubes -
PBS: r/o platelet clumping, morphological abnormalities
→ Giant platelet in peripheral destruction (eg. ITP) or congenital megathrombocytopenia (eg. Bernard-Soulier)
→ Large, agranular platelets in grey platelet syndrome (no α-granules)
→ RBC/WBC morphology, eg. schistocyte in MAHA, megaloblastic anemia - Consider BM failure if pancytopenia
→ Bone marrow exams - Consider peripheral destruction if isolated thrombocytopenia
→ Hypersplenism with chronic liver disease → LFT
→ ITP or drug-induced thrombocytopenia → PBS + r/o alternative causes by HIV, HCV - Assess bleeding risk → PLT count + fundus for risk of Intra-cranial hemorrhage
Treatment of thrombocytopenia (Non-ITP)
various level of treatment e.g. actively bleeding vs prevention of spontaneous bleeding
Platelet concentrate transfusion
for Active bleeding:
- <50×109/L if diffuse microvascular/mucosal bleeding, major bleeding
- <100×109/L if retinal/CNS bleeding or post-cardiopulmonary bypass bleeding
for Prevention of spontaneous bleeding: <10×109/L if stable, <20×109/L if fever/sepsis
for Preparation of invasive procedure:
- <20×109/L for minor procedures, eg. diagnostic endoscopy, central line, BM aspiration
- <50×109/L for major procedures
- <100×109/L for neurosurgery or ocular surgery
Contraindications of Platelet concentrate transfusion
ITP
TTP/ HIT
Antiplatelet drug use
Investigations for suspected hereditary platelet dysfunctions
Platelet aggregometry: measure response to agonists by aggregometry
PFA-100: platelet function analyzer
Electron microscopy studies: can detect granulation disorders
Flow cytometry: can detect glycoprotein defects
Genetic studies as indicated
ITP
- Types and definition
Primary ITP: acquired immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (platelet <100×109/L) that is not triggered by apparent associated condition
Secondary ITP: acquired immune-mediated thrombocytopenia a/w underlying condition
Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (DITP): thrombocytopenia due to drug-dependent platelet antibodies that cause platelet destruction
Pathogenesis of ITP
anti-platelet antibodies leading to platelet destruction
-
Inciting event: occurs in some cases
Viral infection: Ab vs viral Ag cross-react with normal platelet antigens → molecular mimicry
Immune diseases: A/I disease or low-grade lymphoproliferative neoplasm or immunodeficiency → loss of peripheral tolerance → produce autoAb -
Antibody production:
Driven by CD4+ helper T cells reacting to platelet surface glycoproteins
Results in production of autoAb (usu IgG) vs platelet surface components esp GPIIb/IIIa and GPIb/IX - Consequence: ↓platelet lifespan from ~7-10d to ~1-2d
Platelet sensitization → premature removal by RES
Inhibition on TPO stimulation of platelet production in BM