Haemostasis Flashcards
The immediate arrest of haemorrhage depends on?
Vasoconstriction Adhesion Aggregation Leading to the platelet plug Then the activation of the coagulation system Formation of the fibrin clot
main points on what happens in primary haemostasis
vasoconstriction to slow blood flow
vasodilation and increased permeability to allow leukocytes to enter site of injury
platelets activate and become sticky due to activation factors (turbulence of blood flow, contact with damaged blood vessel)
von Willebrand factor mediates platelet linking to collagen via platelet receptor GPIb
GPIb causes platelet to change from discoid to spherical cells with pseudopodia, allowing interaction with other platelets
activated platelets release ADP and TXA2 which induces aggregation, recruitment of more platelets and upregulation of expression of glycoproteins
that causes the binding of fibrogen, allowing crosslinking and aggregation of platelets
main points on what happens in secondary haemostasis
extrinsic pathway activated by damaged cells, releasing tissue factor
Exposure of TF binds to factor VII activating factor X
intrinsic pathway activated by blood contacting collagen fibres from broken vessel wall
common pathway activated by prothrombin which is produced by extrinsic and intrinsic pathways
common pathway leads to thrombin production
thrombin stimulates further aggregation (positive feedback) and converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin
this creates a mesh which traps leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelets = strengthened clot
Fibrinolysis occurs generating plasmin which dissolves the clot. The fibrinogen split products generated prevent further clotting by inhibiting fibrin polymerisation and platelet aggregation.
what is the aim of primary and secondary haemostasis
primary- slowing of blood preventing blood loss and formation of a plug
secondary- activation of the coagulation cascade and strengthening the plug
what does healthy endothelium express/produce in order to block platelet adhesion
expresses:
ecto-ADPase (CD39)
produces:
prostacyclin (PGI2)
nitric oxide (NO)
what drug inhibits platelets?
asprin
what is a quantitative platelet disorder of primary haemostasis
thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis
what is a qualitative platelet disorder of primary haemostasis
functional defect can be inherited or acquired.
what is an acquired platelet disorder of primary haemostasis
drugs, alcohol, uremia and myeloproliferative disorders
facts about Thrombocytopenia
<150x109/L platelets
bleeding occurance:
Minor >10x109/L.
Spontaneous <10x109/L.
Clinical bleeding doesn’t always correlate with platelet count due to other factors e.g. endothelium integrity and platelet functionality.
what is Thrombocytopenia
Abnormally low levels of thrombocytes, also known as platelets, in the blood.
what is a Normal platelet count
150-350 x109/L
what are the platelet counts for people with mild, moderate and severe Thrombocytopenia
Mild (50-150),
moderate (20-50)
severe(<20) - more prone to bleeds
platelet numbers when bleeding rarely occurs?
Bleeding rarely occurs >50x109/L.
name all the main diseases of haemostasis and briefly outline what they are
Primary haemostasis
Thrombocytopenia - low (<150x109/L) platelets
Secondary haemostasis
Haemophilia (A/B/C) -
Cant form blood clots
how do we diagnose Thrombocytopenia, what do we look at?
Full blood count.
Blood film. Number, size, colour of platelets.
Platelet clumping – citrate sample
Large platelets – congenital thrombocytopenias
Small platelets – Wiskott-Aldrich
Red cell fragments – thrombotic microangiopathy. (thrombosis in capillaries)
Hypogranular neutrophils (no pink granules) – myelodysplasia (cancers where cells don’t mature)
thrombocytopenia etiology?
Exclude congenital thrombocytopenia’s - previous normal count.
Exposure to drugs e.g. Alcohol or quinine.
Viral infections e.g. HIV or CMV.
Hypothermia can cause this too as platelets will go into the spleen if too cold so not in circulation
Post operative – dilutional – will resolve, cardiac surgery – damage to platelets, may persist.
autoimmune – ITP, Anti-phospholipid syndrome and post transfusion purpura.
what are the treatments for Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and how do they work
Anti-D
IgG
Rituximab
cyclophosphamide splenectomy
1/3 of platelets go into the spleen - allows them to go back into circulation
signs of Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
Petechial rash or oral bleeding.