L 39 Flashcards
The balance of blood fluidity is between these 2 things….
Haemostasis (clotting) and bleeding
Things that favour the haemostasis x5
- Turbulent of static blood flow
- Venous thromboembolism
- Reduced natural anticoagulation or fibrinolysis
- Atrial fibrillation
- Post-trauma
Things that favour bleeding x4
- Vascular damage
- Haemophilia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anticoagulation and anti-platelet drugs
Thrombocytopenia meaning?
Reduced activity/number of platelets
Haemophilia meaning?
Reduced ability to make blood clots.
In some pathologies, the balance is tipped towards…. We can counter-balance the system using…. therapy. This makes the scale ….
In some pathologies, the balance is tipped towards hypercoagulability. We can counterbalance the system using anticoagulant therapy.
This makes the scale tip slightly towards blood flow/bleeding.
Thrombus definition + composition?
A blood clot that completely or partially occludes a blood vessel. It is composed of platelets, fibrin, clotting factors
Haemostasis definition?
Clot formation as a normal response to injury
Thrombosis definition?
A pathological clot formed in the absence of an injury (e.g haemostasis in the wrong place/somewhere it is not meant to)
Coagulation definition?
The physiological process that leads to clot formation
Thromboembolism definition?
Example of something that can cause a thromboembolism?
Obstruction of a blood vessel caused by a blood clot that has become dislodged from another site.
Atrial fibrillation can cause a clot to form in the atria, which can potentially move into the brain.
Coagulation/clotting cascade uses and limitations?
Uses: useful for describing in vitro coagulation (e.g prothrombin time, aPTT)
Limitations: limited for understanding in vivo coagulation
What is the end product of the coagulation cascade?
A fibrin mesh
Is the coagulation cascade aptly named?
No, as it is not a one way system. It feeds backwards and forwards on itself, and within the different pathways/stages.
4x stages of the coagulation pathway (extrinsic)
1a. Initiation (platelet activation)
1b. Initiation (activation of factors X and IX)
2. Amplification (of Xa/2a, causing a burst of activated thrombin)
3. Propagation (formation of the fibrin clot)
What is the intrinsic pathway?
How does it differ from the extrinsic pathway?
A coagulation pathway that is activated by trauma inside the vascular system (e.g in a blood vessel) rather than external damage (e.g a cut)
It is slower than the extrinsic pathway
What is the target of Vitamin K antagonists?
+ an example
Vitamin K epoxide reductase - VKOR (in the VitK cycle in the liver)
e.g Warfarin
What is the target of heparins? + 3x examples of heparins/related drugs
Antithrombin
- Unfractionated heparin
- Low molecular weight heparin
- Fondaparinux (hospital only)
What is the target of NOACs?
What does NOAC stand for?
What are 2 examples of NOACs?
The target of NOACs: Thrombin, Factor Xa
NOAC = Novel oral anticoagulants
e.g dabigatran, rivaroxaban
How was warfarin discovered?
The chemical compound of coumarins was discovered to have anticoagulant properties when hay became mouldy. It was fed to cows and they kept bleeding.
This compound is the basis for warfarin.
When was warfarin first available for human use?
1952
Pharmacokinetics of warfarin: x3
- Racemic mixture of R- and S- wafarin
- Highly protein bound and well absorbed
- Hepatically metabolised with a low clearance
PK differences between S and R warfarin
- S warfarin = CYP2C9 and t0.5 of ~24hours. 3-5x more potent than R-warfarin.
- R warfarin = CYP3A4, 1A2 and 2C19. t0.5 = ~36 hours
MoA of warfarin
By inhibiting VKOR, warfarin reduces the production of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X
What does VKOR do?
What is the impact of inhibiting this?
It catalyses the reaction of Vitamin K into Vitamin K epoxide and back.
Vitamin K is a cofactor in the clotting factor formation, therefore inhibiting this will produce less clotting factors.
What is the half-life of S-warfarin?
Therefore how long would it take to reach steady-state?
Half life = ~24hours
Steady state = 5x half lives = 5 days (120 hours)