Haemostasis Flashcards
What two factors must always be balanced in blood?
Fibrinolytic factors
Anticoagulant proteins
Coagulation factors
Platelets
Why is the haemostatic balance important?
Coagulation after an injury
Limit the extent of the bleeding so as not to cause a thrombosis
Start the process that leads to the breakdown of the clot
What are the three processes involved in haemostasis? (Halting of blood)
Vasoconstriction
Primary haemostasis (platelet plug)
Secondary haemostasis (fibrin clot)
What are some features of platelets?
Discoid
Non nucleated
Granule containing
Derived from myeloid stem cells
What is the lifespan of a platelet?
10 days
Where are platelets formed?
In the bone marrow by the fragmentation of megakaryote cytoplasm
What are the two ways platelets stick to damaged endothelium?
Directly to collagen via the platelet GPIa receptor (glycoprotein Ia)
Via Von willebrand factor (WFE) which binds to the platelet GPIb receptor
What happens when a platelet binds to damaged endothelium?
Activates them and changes their shape from a disc to rounded shape with spicules to encourage platelet-platelet interaction
The release of the contents of their storage granules
What are the two main types of granules in platelets?
a-granules
Dense granules
Through what are the platelet granules released?
Surface-connected cannalicular system
What are some of the important contents of the granules?
ADP
Von willebrand factor
Fibrinogen
Platelets are stimulated to produce the prostaglandin thromboxane A2, where from?
Arachidonic acid that is derived from the cell membrane
What is the role of thromboxane A2?
Involved in platelet aggregation
Vasoconstrictor
What does the release of ADP and generation of thromboxane A2 create a positive feedback loop of? And how?
Platelet recruitment activation and aggregation
Binding respectively to P2Y12 and thromboxane A2 receptor
Why does platelet activation cause a conformational change in the GPIIb/IIIa receptor?
To provide binding sites for fibrinogen
Fibrinogen has a key role in linking platelets together to form the platelet plug. What counterbalances this effect?
The active flow of blood
The release of prostacyclin from endothelial cells.
Prostacyclin is released form endothelial cells, what does it do?
It is a powerful vasodilator
Surpresses platelet activation
This prevents inappropriate platelet aggregation
Aspirin is an anti platelet drug, how does it work?
Inhibits the production of thromboxane A2 by irreversibly blocking the action of COX resulting in a reduction in platelet aggregation.
A single done of aspirin lasts around 7 days as this is the time taken for most of the platelets to have been replaced
Clopidegrel is an anti platelet drunk. How does it work?
Irreversibly blocks the ADP receptor (P2Y12) on the platelet cell membrane
Lasts 7 days as new platelets must be produced
Where is Von willebrand factor synthesised?
Endothelial cells and megakaryocytes
Circulates in plasma as multimedia of different sizers
What does VWF do?
Von willebrand factor mediates the adhesion of platelets to sites of injury and promotes platelet-platelet aggregation
It is a specific carrier for factor VIII (FVIII)
What is the role of thrombin in secondary haemostasis?
Cleaves fibrinogen to generate a fibrin clot that stabilises the platelet plug
Useful in injuries to larger vessels