Haemostasis Flashcards
Define haemostasis
The cellular and biochemical processes that enables both the specific and regulated cessation of bleeding in response to vascular insult
What is haemostasis?
Prevention of blood loss from intact vessels
Arrest bleeding from injured vessels
Enable tissue repair
Describe mechanism of haemostasis
- Vessel constriction - Vascular smooth muscle cells contract locally, Limits blood flow to injured vessel
- Primary haemostasis - Formation of an unstable platelet plug - platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation. Limits blood loss + provides surface for coagulation.
- Secondary haemostasis - Stabilisation of the plug with fibrin. Blood coagulation stops blood loss.
- Fibrinolysis - Vessel repair and dissolution of clot. Cell migration/proliferation & fibrinolysis. Restores vessel integrity.
Why do we need to understand haemostatic mechanisms?
- Diagnose and treat bleeding disorders
- Control bleeding in individuals who do not have an underlying bleeding disorder
- Identify risk factors for thrombosis
- Treat thrombotic disorders
- Monitor the drugs that are used to treat bleeding and thrombotic disorders
What can cause a decrease in thrombotic factors?
- Lack of a specific factor - Failure of production: congenital and acquired, Increased consumption/clearance
- Defective function of a specific factor - Genetic, Acquired: drugs, synthetic defect, inhibition
Describe platelet adhesion and aggregation
Damage to endothelial wall means platelets can bind directly to the exposed collagen via the GP1a receptor or can bind to VWF via the GP1b receptor. Platelets release granular contents and together with generation of thromboxane from arachidonic acid results in platelet activation. Activation of GP2b/3a receptors on platelets.
What can cause thrombocytopenia?
Bone marrow failure eg: leukaemia, B12 deficiency
Accelerated clearance eg: immune (ITP), Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Pooling and destruction in an enlarged spleen
What is immune thrombocytopenia purpura?
Autoantibodies bind to platelets causing macrophages to clear them.
What can cause impaired function of platelets?
Hereditary absence of glycoproteins or storage granules
Acquired due to drugs: aspirin, NSAIDs, clopidogrel (common)
What are 3 hereditary conditions causing impaired platelet function?
Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia - autosomal recessive disease
Bernard Soulier syndrome
Storage Pool disease
When is antiplatelet therapy used and what is it?
Widely used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular & cerebrovascular disease. The prostaglandin Thromboxane A2 is produced by platelets from Arachidonic acid. Aspirin irreversibly blocks COX preventing thromboxane formation. Clopidogrel irreversibly blocks the ADP receptor P2Y12 on platelets, preventing platelet shape change response and aggregation.
What is the function of VWF in haemostasis?
Binding to collagen and capturing platelets
Stabilising Factor VIII
What causes von Willebrand disease?
VWD is usually hereditary (autosomal inheritance pattern):
Deficiency of VWF (Type 1 or 3)
VWF with abnormal function (Type 2)
What are potential disorders of primary haemostasis?
Platelets
Von Willebrand Factor
The vessel wall
Inherited (rare) Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other connective tissue disorders
Acquired (common): Steroid therapy, Ageing (‘senile’ purpura), Vasculitis, Scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency)
Long term steroids: can develop atrophy of collagen fibres supporting blood vessels in the skin
Senile purpura: come on with age, dark purple with well-defined edges, most commonly distributed on extensor surfaces of forearms and dorsal aspects of hands
What is typical primary haemostasis bleeding?
Immediate
Prolonged bleeding from cuts
Nose bleeds (epistaxis): prolonged > 20 mins
Gum bleeding: prolonged
Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
Bruising (ecchymosis), may be spontaneous/easy
Prolonged bleeding after trauma or surgery
What are petechiae and purpura signs of?
Petechiae and Purpura are caused by bleeding under the skin
Purpura do not blanch when pressure is applied
Thrombocytopenia – Petechiae
Purpura – platelet (thrombocytopenic purpura) or vascular disorders
Severe VWD – haemophilia-like bleeding (due to low FVIII)
What are tests for disorders of primary haemostasis?
Platelet count, platelet morphology
Bleeding time (PFA100 in lab)
Assays of von Willebrand Factor
Clinical observation
Note –coagulation screen (PT, APTT) is normal (except more severe VWD cases where FVIII is low)
What are principles of treating disorders of primary haemostasis?
- Failure of production/function:
Replace missing factor/platelets e.g. VWF containing concentrates - can be prophylactic or therapeutic
Stop drugs e.g. aspirin/NSAIDs - Immune destruction
Immunosuppression (e.g. prednisolone)
Splenectomy for ITP - Increased consumption
Treat cause
Replace as necessary