Haemostatic Disease Flashcards
What is the process of haemostasis?
- When a vessel is injured platelets adhere to collagen. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is also important in platelet adhesion (primary haemostasis)
- Platelets change shape following adhesion with secretion of substances from granules which potentiate platelet aggregation and contraction of the platelet plug
- Stabilisation of the platelet plug is achieved by the deposition of fibrin, the end product of the coagulation cascade (secondary haemostasis)
- Tertiary haemostasis (certain breeds will have disorders – and will break down clots too quickly e.g. greyhound and sighthound)
Name clinical signs of primary haemostatic disease
•Petechiae/ecchymoses common
–Small bruise
•Bleeding from mucus membranes
–E.g. Von Willebands blled through
- Often more than one site of bleeding
- Haematomas rare
Name clinical signs of secondary haemostatic disorders
•Petechiae/ecchymoses rare
–Usually bigger bleeds
–Primary usually intact
- Deep or cavity bleeds. Can bleed from mucus membranes
- Sometimes single sites of bleeding
- Haematomas common
What does this show?
Petechiae
What is this?
Ecchymoses
How can we tell if skin ecchymoses is present?
Press microscope against the skin and it wont disappear
What are the 3 causes of abnormal primary haemostasis?
- Platelet numbers: Thrombocytopenia
- Don’t have enough
- Platelet function: Thrombocytopathia (thrombopathia)
–Don’t function well
•vWF: vWF deficiency
What is the signalment of primary haemostatic disorders?
- Young animals more likely to have an inherited rather than acquired coagulopathy
- Certain breeds are predisposed to inherited disorders of primary haemostasis
- Certain breeds and female dogs prone to immune mediated thrombocytopenia
How can we test for primary haemostasis conditions?
- Platelet count
- Buccal mucosal bleeding time
- von Willebrand factor antigen
- Platelet function assays
Where should you take a blood sample from for haemostasis testing?
Peripheral e.g. cephalic or saphenous
What blood tube do we usually do for:
A) Haematology?
B) Cats and platelet?
A) EDTA
B) Citrate
How can we do a platelet (PLT) count?
- EDTA sample
- PLT counts should be performed as soon as possible to avoid clumping
- Three methods can be used:
–estimated count from a blood smear
–automated cell count*
–haemocytometer
How do you interpret a platelet (PLT) count?
- Scan for evidence of platelet clumps, before examining the monolayer of the film under oil immersion
- Each platelet / hpf (1000x) equates to approximately 20 x109/l
–5-6 platelets per high power to ensure they wont bleed
•Assess morphology: large or shift platelets indicate increased platelet production
What are in the white circles?
Shift platelets
When is bleeding usually seen with a platelet (PLT) count?
Bleeding usually only seen if platelets <50 x109/l
Why should you not do a BMBT if platelets are low?
As it will be prolonged and can be dangerous
How do you interpret BMBT?
•An increased time to stop bleeding indicates defective primary haemostasis (vWF, platelets, vascular defects)
–Dog: 1.7–3.3 minutes (up to 4.2 if anaesthetised)
–Anaesthetised cat: <3.3 minutes
What is Thromboelastography (TEG) / ROTEM?
- Provides dynamic global functional assessment of primary, secondary and tertiary haemostasis fibrinolysis
- How the blood sample forms; rate of formation, strength off clot and how long it takes to break down
- Looks at the whole process
- Gold standard 0 £££. Unlikely in clinic.
What are the 3 causes of thrombocytopaenia?
1.Defective platelet production (severe)
–BM neoplasia e.g leukaemia
–Drug/chemical/toxin-induced BM suppression
–BM infections (especially viral and rickettsial)
1.Accelerated platelet removal (most severe)
–Immune-mediated destruction (ITP) (most common)
–Consumption in microangiopathic conditions (DIC)
1.Platelet sequestration or loss (not as severe)
–Splenomegaly / vascular pooling
–Acute ongoing haemorrhage
What is immune mediated thromcytopaenia and what is the signalment?
- The most common acquired cause of primary haemostatic defects in the dog
- Platelets are destroyed faster than they can be made
- Primary (idiopathic) or secondary (e.g. drug-induced, infection, neoplasia related)
- Young to middle-aged, female dogs
–Cocker spaniels, miniature / toy poodles and old English sheepdogs predisposed
How do you treat immune-mediated thrombocytopenia?
Suppress the immune system
Name 2 causes of Thrombocytopenia in cattle? (3)
•Bovine neonatal pancytopaenia (‘bleeding calf syndrome’)
–Related to the BVD vaccine…..
- Bracken poisoning
- Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus
When do we usually see inherited thrombopathias?
–Probably first suspect at vaccinations or neutering
–Haemophilia – severe secondary – vaccination or even with litter mates and injured themselves (end up with huge haemotoma)
–Primary e.g. VW - Dental eruptions or neutering – need more of a stimulus
What are the 3 causes of thrombocytopathia
- Inherited thrombopathias
- Drug induced defects of platelet function
- Platelet dysplasia - Myeloproliferative disease and other forms of neoplasia
Name 3 inherited thrombopathias diseases (6)
- Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia (adhesion defect)
- Storage pool deficiency
- Chediak Higashi syndrome (Persian cat)
- Bassett hound thrombopathia
- Scott syndrome in GSDs
- Simmental cattle
How can we diagnose thrombocytopathia?
–Normal PLT count but prolonged BMBT
–Normal levels of vWF
–Diagnosis of exclusion?
–PLT function tests: aggregometry, adhesion assays, flow cytometry (expression of surface molecules)