Haemostasis Flashcards
What is thrombosis
Formation of a blood clot in an intact blood vessel
What is primary Haemostasis
Formation of an unstable platelet plug at the site of vessel wall damage
What is secondary Haemostasis
Formation of a stable fibrin clot aka coagulation
What 3 processes follow blood vessel trauma
- Vasoconstriction
- Primary Haemostasis
- Secondary haemostasis / coagulation
What 2 actions are involved in primary haemostasis
Platelet adhesion
Platelet aggregation
What is the last step in response to injury
Fibrinolysis
Where do platelets originate from
Fragmentation of megakaryocyte cytoplasm in bone marrow
What is the circulating life span of a platelet
10 days
How do platelets stick to damaged endothelium
Either:
Directly to collagen via the platelet GPIa receptor
Or:
Indirectly via Von Willebrand factor which binds to GPIb receptor
This causes them to be activated
Why do platelets change from disk shaped to rounded with spicules
To encourage platelet-platelet interaction
When activated, what do platelets release from their storage granules
ADP
Fibrinogen
Von Willebrand Factor
How do platelets release the contents of their granules
Platelet membrane is invaginated (turned inside out to form cavity) to form surface-connected cannalicular system
What is the prostaglandin thromboxane A2 synthesised from
Arachiodonic acid from cell membrane of activated platelet
What are the roles of thromboxane A2
Platelet aggregation
Vasoconstriction
Important during tissue injury and inflammation
Why is aspirin classed as an anti platelet drug
Irreversibly Inhibits COX (cyclooxygenase), an enzyme involved in TXA2 synthesis, reducing platelet aggregation
What follows the granular release of ADP and thromboxane A2
Positive feedback effect; further platelet recruitment activation and aggregation
What receptors do ADP and TXA2 bind to on platelet membrane
P2Y12 and thromboxane A2 receptor respectively
Platelet activation causes a) what kind ofconformational change and b) in which receptor and c) for what purpose
a) ‘Inside out’ or ‘flip flopping’
b) GPIIb/IIIa
c) provide binding sites for fibrinogen
How does fibrinogen link platelets together to form the platelet plug?
Binds to GPIIb/IIIa receptor
Also causes ‘outside in’ signalling which further activates platelets
What 2 things counterbalance the effect of platelet aggregation
Active flow of blood
Prostacyclin (PGI2) released from endothelial cells
What are the roles of prostacyclin
Powerful vasodilator
Suppresses platelet activation
Thus prevents inappropriate platelet aggregation
How long do the anti-platelet effects of aspirin and clopidogrel last
7 days, until new platelets have been produced