Hemostasis Flashcards
What is hemostasis?
The process to stop bleeding. It is the 1st stage of wound healing.
-Primary, Secondary and Tertiary
What are the processes involved in hemostasis?
- vasoconstriction
- platelet activation
- coagulation
- fibrinolysis
What is primary hemostasis?
Form weak plug.
- mediated by interaction between wall and platelets
What is secondary hemostasis?
Formation of stabilized platelet plug.
-mediated by coagulation cascade
Steps of primary hemostasis
1) Vasoconstriction
- neural stim’n and endothelin released from endothelial cells
2) Platelet adhesion
3) Platelet degranulation
4) Platelet aggregation
Steps of primary hemostasis
1) Vasoconstriction
- neural stim’n and endothelin released from endothelial cells
2) Platelet adhesion
- vWF binds to exposed collagen, platelets adhere to vWF via GP1b Rc
3) Platelet degranulation
- adhesion induces change in shape of platelets causing release: ADP, TXA and Ca++
4) Platelet aggregation
- platelets aggregate @ injured site via GPIIb/IIIa using fibrinogen to link molecules
- TXA promotes aggregation
Where does the vWF derive from?
- Endothelial cells (Weibel Palade bodies)
- alpha granules of platelets
What is thrombophilia?
Increased risk of thrombosis.
State of hypercoagulability/prothrombic state
What are the risks associated to having thrombophilia?
HEREDITARY:
- factor V (Leyden) mutation
- anti-thrombin III deficiency
ACQUIRED:
- lung immobilization
- contraceptives (estrogen increases coagulation factors in liver)
- atrial fibrillation
- smoking
- obesity
A disorder in primary hemostasis is typically due to what?
Platelet abnormalities
What’s the difference between: petechia, ecchymoses and purpura?
They are all signs of bleeding in the skin, but differ in size.
Petechia: 1-2 mm
Ecchymoses: >3 mm
Purpura: > 1 cm
What complication can occur with severe thrombocytopenia?
Intracranial bleeding
If bleeding time is prolonged, what problem does this indicate….?
Primary hemostasis problem i.e. with platelet disorders
What would be assessed in a bone marrow biopsy for primary hemostasis abnormality?
Assess megakaryoctes, because they produce thrombocytes (platelets), which is the underlying cause of 1’ hemostasis abnormalities
What is immune thrombocytopenia (aka immune thrombocytopenic purpura ITP)
An autoimmune disease where auto-antibodies produced in the spleen bind platelets, which are consumed by splenic macrophages causing thrombocytopenia.