Haemostasis Flashcards
What is haemostasis?
The process involving the stoppage of blood flow through vessels following trauma.
What are the three stages of haemostasis?
1) Vasoconstriction
2) Primary haemostasis
3) Secondary haemostasis
What is vasoconstriction?
Vascular smooth muscle cells contract locally to limit blood flow to injured vessel.
What is primary haemostasis?
Formation of unstable platelet plug at the site of damaged vessel wall (Involves platelet adhesion, and aggregation).
N.B: Provides surface for coagulation
What is secondary haemostasis?
Formation of stable fibrin clot. (coagulation)
What is fibronlysis?
Concerned with vessel repair, and dissolution of clot, respectively achieved by cell migration/proliferation and the enzymatic breakdown of fibrin – restores vessel integrity.
What are the 3 main functions of haemostasis?
Prevention of blood loss from intact vessels
Arrest bleeding from injured vessels
Enable tissue repair
What are platelets?
Platelets are non-nucleated, discoid, granule-containing cells
Which cells are platelets derived from?
Megakaryocytes
What is the circulating lifespan of platelets?
10 days
How to platelets adhere to the damaged endothelial wall?
The plasma membranes contain glycoproteins that are responsible for platelet interactions, to which proceeding on from vessel wall damage, exposed collagen fibres facilitate a surface for platelet aggregation to the damage endothelium by directly binding onto glycoprotein-1A receptor.
Which cell surface glycoprotein on platelets directly binds onto the endothelial wall?
Glycoprotein-1a receptor
How do platelets indirectly bind onto the damaged endothelium?
By attaching to Von Willebrand factor (VWF), interacting with the glycoprotein-IB receptor
What happens upon platelet adhesion to the damaged endothelial wall?
Platelet adhesion initiates activation and release of clotting factors from storage granules
ADP is also released
What are the two storage granules in platelets?
Alpha and dense granules
What two substances are mainly released upon platelet aggregation?
Thromboxane A2
ADP
What is the precursor of thromboxane A2?
Arachidonic acid
What is the function of thromboxane A2?
Stimulates platelet aggregation, and activation of new platelets (exhibits positive feedback)
-Also a vasoconstrictor
Upon thromboxane and ADP action, what happens to the platelets?
Conformational change occurs (ADP-induced) in the GP2b/3a receptor (flip-flopping) to provide binding sites for fibrinogen
What is the function of fibrinogen in primary haemostasis?
A soluble blood protein that links platelets together to form an unstable platelet plug
What is thrombocytopenia?
Low numbers of platelets
What are the common disorders of primary haemostasis?
Thrombocytopenia
Bone marrow failure: Leukaemia, B12 deficiency
ITP
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Pooling and destruction in an enlarged spleen
Impaired function of platelets
Acquired (drugs)
What are possible causes of bone marrow failure?
Leukaemia, B12 deficiency
How can an impaired function of platelet activity lead to a disorder of primary haemostasis?
There is an hereditary absence of glycoproteins or storage granules (rare).
Which drugs are implicated in inducing a disorder of primary haemostasis?
Aspirin
NSAIDs
Clopidrogrel
What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura?
• Antiplatelet autoantibodies adhere to the sensitised platelet.
• This identifies the platelet to undergo phagocytosis by macrophages.
This causes a depletion of platelets.
• ITP is a common cause of thrombocytopenia.
What is Glanzmann’s thrombocytopenia?
Refers to an abence of GP2b/3a receptor on platelets
What is Bernard Soulier Syndrome?
Absence of Gp1b receptors
What is storage pool disease?
Absence of dense granules
-reduced ADP release
What is the mechanism of action of aspirin?
Aspirin inhibits the production of thromboxane A2 by irreversibly blocking the action of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) - reduced platelet aggregation
How long does a single dose of aspirin typically last?
7 days
Most of the platelets at the time of aspirin ingestion have been replaced by new platelets
What is the action of clopidogrel?
• Irreversibly blocks the ADP receptor (P2Y12) on the platelet cell membrane; thereby ADP-induced conformational change cannot occur.
Which receptor is blocked by clopidogrel?
P2Y12 receptor (ADP)
What is Von Willebrand disease?
In Von Willebrand disease, there is a hereditary decrease of quantity of VWF, in severe cases there is a deficiency of factor VIII. The cause is typically associated with an autosomal inheritance pattern.
Which cells are responsible for the synthesis of VWF?
• VWF is a multimeric glycoprotein that is synthesised by endothelial cells and megakaryocytes, circulating in the plasma.
What is the function of VWF?
• This mediates the adhesion of platelets to sites of injury, thus promoting platelet-platelet aggregation by binding onto the glycoprotein-1b receptor.
What clotting factor is VWF a specific carrier?
Factor VIII
What type 1 and 3 VW disease?
Deficiency of VWF
Which type of Von Willebrand disease is concerned with abnormal function of VWF?
Type 2
Which hereditary disorders influence disorders of the vessel wall?
• Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other connective tissue disorders (RARE).
What are the acquired causes of disorders of the vessel wall?
Steroid therapy, ageing (senile purpura), vasculitis, scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency).
How do steroids cause damage to the vessel wall?
Steroids can develop atrophy of the collagen fibres supporting the blood vessels in the skin
What is senile purpura?
Senile purpura is dark purple well-defined margins commonly distributed on the extensor surfaces of the arms and dorsum of the hand.
What are the clinical features of disorders of primary haemostasis?
- Immediate
- Prolonged bleeding from cuts
- Nose bleeds (Epistaxis): Prolonged > 20 minutes.
- Gum bleeding: Prolonged
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
- Bruising (ecchymosis) may be spontaneous/easy
- Prolonged bleeding after trauma or surgery
What are petechia and purpura?
Thrombocytopenia – petechiae Petechia and purpura are caused by bleeding under the skin. (Can occur in vascular disorders).
Purpura do not blanch when pressure is applied Diagnostic of meningitis.
What is the average radius of petechia?
Less than 3mm
What is the average radius of purpura?
3-10mm
What is the average radius of ecchymosis?
> 10mm
What investigations are conducted
- Platelet count, platelet morphology
- Bleeding time (PFA100 in lab)
- Assays of VWF.
- Clinical observation
- Note –coagulation screen (PT, APTT) is normal (except more severe VWD cases where FVIII is low)
What is the normal range of a platelet count?
100-400 x 10^9/L