Haemostasis - 1 Flashcards
Describe the three main factors involved in haemostasis.
Vessel Constriction
Platelets - activation, adhesion, platelet plug
Coagulation cascade activated = fibrin
When would increased bleeding or thrombosis occur?
Vessel wall disease
Abnormal numbers of functions of platelets
Reduced or abnormal coagulation proteins or inhibitors of coagulation
Purpura
Bleeding into the skin due to reduced platelet count
Ecchymoses
Large purpura
Petechiae
Small pinpoint sites of bleeding from capillaries
What is needed for normal homeostasis?
Normal blood vessel walls
Normal endothelium
Normal platelet numbers and function
Normal amounts of functionally normal coagulation proteins
Normal blood flow and normal inhibitors of platelet activation and coagulation
Name the platelet activation receptors.
Collagen - GpIa vWF - GpIb Thromboxane A2 Adrenaline ADP Thrombin Serotonin
Name the steps of platelets involved in bleeding.
Adhesion
Activation
Platelet plug formation
What happens in platelet adhesion?
GPIV/GPIa binds to collagen
GPIb binds to vWF
Describe the events occurring in platelet activation.
Shape change - more spherical and pseudopods extended
Secretion of granules - alpha and dense to recruit and activate more platelets
Production of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) via COX pathway - more platelets activated by TXA2
GpIIa and GPIIb activated - Fibrinogen or vWF binds to GpIIa/GpIIb and platelets aggregate
Microvesicles budded off platelet cell membrane
What effect does shearing stress from turbulent blood flow have on platelet activation?
May partially activate platelets
What are dense granules formed of?
Ca
ADP
Serotonin - vasoconstriction and platelet activation
What are alpha granules formed of?
Fibrinogen, vWF, Factor V, Factor VII
Platelet specific: platelet factor 4 (anti-heparin)
Why is the platelet plug essential for stopping bleeding?
Ensures activating coagulation factors are not washed away
Activated coagulation factor concentrations increase to the levels needed for a fibrin clot to be produced
What is the bleeding time test?
Standardized assessment of microvascular bleeding