Haemoglobin and revision Flashcards
Thrombosis
blood clot that forms in a vessel not due to haemostasis. Can be arterial or venous
Types of DVT
- Distal: popliteal and below
- Proximal: above popliteal- higher risk
- Line associated- low risk as clearly associated with risk factor
Types of PE
- Central (pulmonary trunk or main pulmonary arteries)- higher risk
- Segmental
- Sub-segmental
Consequences of thrombosis
- DVT: can cause scarring and narrowing of vessels leading to ongoing pain (post thrombotic syndrome)
- Pe: Pulmonary hypertension- narrowing or permanent occlusion in the pulmonary arteries causing right sided heart strain causing Chronic thrombotic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) which is fatal. Do echocardiogram if persistent breathing issues 3 months post PE
- Psychological: anxiety, stress, PTSD
Provoking factors for VTE
- Cancer
- Pregnancy
- Surgery (requiring GA >30 minutes)
- Fracture
- Flight >4 hours
- Recent hospitalisation
- Hormonal therapy: COCP, HRT
- Immobility >3 days
How long do we treat thrombosis
- Provoked: 3 months minimum, consider longer if ongoing risk factors or extensive
- Unprovoked dvt/pe: Long term treatment unless contraindicated
- Unprovoked Distal DVT: 6 months
- Warn patients after thrombosis that if they ever experience any long term immobility, surgery or long flight they should take prophylactic anticoagulants
Types of medication in VT
- Rivaroxaban (DOAC): once daily taken with a meal, need ok renal function
- Dabigatran: twice daily, more GI side effects, need ok renal function
- Apixaban- twice daily, less side effects, hepatically excreted
- Warfarin: aim for INR 3-4. Done if severe renal impairment. Reversible but more likely to have an ICH
- Two reversible anticoagulants: warfarin, Dabigatran
What do we check after VT
- Check for cancer: good history, check if up to date with screening
- Thrombophilia screen
- Antiphospholipid syndrome: check the three markers lupus anticoagulant, anti-beta2 glycoprotein IgG, anti-cardiolipin IgG. Might need higher intensity anticoagulant. Not inherited but acquired
Post thrombotic syndrome
- Can be debilitating and affect work
- Symptoms: pain, cramps, heaviness, pruritus, paraesthesis
- Clinical signs: oedema, skin induration, hyperpigmentation, redness, pain during calf compression, venous ectasia
- Villalta score (5=PTS, >14=severe PTS)
- After 12 months consider vascular referral: stenting needed to proximal deep veins
- Don’t forget the stockings (Class 1 and 2)
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)
o Affects 1-2% of PE patients
o Can be treated with ongoing anticoagulation, medication or surgery
o Persisting hypoxia, symptoms of SOB and chest pain
o Echo 3 months after PE to look for RV impairment and raised right heart pressures
o Refer on to pulmonary hypertension clinic
Gynae and thrombosis
- All anticoagulants cause heavy periods: give mirena coil, progesterone implant, anti-fibrinolytics (tranexamic acid)
- Avoid oral oestrogen (COCP)
- If women on anticoagulants become pregnant: switch to LMWH when they have a positive pregnancy tests
- Might need thromboprophylaxis during pregnancy or post-partum if previous history of thrombosis
AF and anticoagulants
- CHA₂DS₂-VASc scoring system- consider anticoagulants if not low risk. Low risk in males is a score of 0 and in females 1
- HAS-BLED: helps assess bleeding risk
- Prescribe warfarin or a DOAC
Starting warfarin
give LMWH until INR is therapeutic in individuals with thrombotic tendency i.e. recent clot
Warfarin
- Antagonises vitamin K- lowers vitamin K dependent clotting factors (factor 7, 9, 10 and prothrombin (2))
- Protein S, C and Z are also vitamin K dependent. These are natural anticoagulants. Means in the first few days of treatment they are more pro-thrombotic
- Normal INR is <1.5
- Therapeutic is 2-3
Heparin and DOAC MoA
- Heparin increases the effects of anti-thrombin which inhibits thrombin. It’s the same mechanism for LMWH and unfractionated heparin.
- Dabigatran (DOAC) directly inhibits thrombin
- Other DOAC’S: XA inhibitors (apixaban, rivaroxaban) inhibit activated factor 10
Choosing an anticoagulant
- Renal function - best is warfarin don’t use dabigratran
- Extremes of body weight – best is warfarin or LMWH
- Drug interactions: DOACs have fewest BUT there are some (antiepileptics, antifungal). Avoid warfarin
- Intensity of anticoagulation: Can only escalate intensity with warfarin and LMWH. Can reduce intensity with DOACs. If aiming for equivalent INR >3 can only use warfarin