Lecture 20 Thrombotic Conditions and Laboratory Assessment Flashcards
What is a thrombus?
Thrombus is an abnormal formation of a platelet or fibrin clot obstruction of a blood vessel
What are some causes of a thrombus?
Many causes:
- Circulatory stasis
- Abnormality in the coagulation system & coagulation control mechanisms
- Abnormal platelet function
- Blood vessel wall disruption
- Leukocyte activation
Where does Venous Thromboembolic Disease (VTE) commonly occur and what are the symptoms?
- Most commonly occurs in the veins of the calves and upper legs
- Symptoms are localized pain, sensation of heat, redness and edema
What more serious complications can occur in Venous Thromboembolic Disease (VTE)?
- Fragments of the clots (thrombi) may separate and move quickly to chambers of the heart, the brain and lodge in the lung called pulmonary emboli (PE)
- These blockages cause ischemia (decreased blood flow)and necrosis of tissue behind the block causing heart attack, stroke, and impaired breathing
10% to 15% of PE patients die within 3 mos.
What is Arterial Thrombosis?
Arthrosclerotic plaques caused by accumulation of lipoproteins mainly LDL
Describe the mechanism/process by which Arterial Thrombosis occurs?
- Activated platelets, monocytes and macrophages embed fatty plaques suppress nitric oxide a vascular relaxing factor
- Small plaques rupture occluding arteries and exposing collagen and releasing Tissue factor
- Platelets binding to vWF will adhere to collagen, then aggregate forming platelet plug
- Tissue Factor combined with Factor VIIa will initiate the coagulation cascade causing a fibrin clot
What patients are frequently tested for Hypercoaguable states?
1) Venous or arterial thrombosis.
2) Transient ischemic attacks (TIA’s)
3) Peripheral Vascular Disease
4) Personal or family history of thrombotic events.
5) Prior to surgery, pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, estrogen therapy, Decreased antithrombin and people with personal or family history of thrombosis.
What is a natural anticoagulant in the body? What factors does it affect?
Antithrombin: Natural anticoagulant to activated forms of thrombin, Factors IX, X, XI and XII. Most important factors inhibited are IIa and Xa.
What defects and disease are associated with hereditary deficiencies of antithrombin?
Hereditary deficiencies both quantitative and qualitative. D.I.C and Liver Disease also causes low levels
What therapy can deplete levels of antithrombin if not monitored properly?
Heparin therapy over a sustained period can deplete AT causing increased risk of thrombosis.
How is antithrombin typically measured?
Usually a chromogenic assay: Amount of chromophore released is proportional to AT concentration.
What can give rise to heparin resistance?
Low antithrombin level can give rise to heparin resistance.
Note: Without adequate amounts of Antithrombin Heparin cannot work properly as an anticoagulant. If patients are not responding to Heparin therapy an Antithrombin level assay should be performed to rule out Antithrombin deficiency as the cause.
What does Antithrombin require for effective anticoagulant activity?
Aka Heparin co-factor
Most important coagulation inhibitor
In vivo heparin sulfate (from endothelial cells and platelets) + commercial heparin
↑ AT activity
Need to confirm what “Aka Heparin …” means.
Where is antithrombin made?
Synthesized in the liver
What factors does anti-thrombin inhibit?
Naturally inhibits coagulation by forming complexes with factors II, IX, X, XI, XII therefore neutralizing them
See slide 15 for a list of all of AT’s functions.
In what conditions is anti-thrombin deficient in?
Deficiencies in AT such as those conditions listed below can lead to severe, even fatal thrombotic events:
- Hereditary seen in 1:2000 to 1:5000 of the general population
- DIC
- Liver disease
- Nephrotic syndrome
What are Protein C and S?
Protein S is a cofactor to Protein C
When complexed, Protein C and S are potent inhibitors of Va and VIIIa
What is the impact of even an heterozygous deficiency in either S or C proteins?
Heterozygous deficiencies lead to a 2-10 fold increased risk of thrombosis
Deficiencies result in serious thrombotic disorders.
What vitamin is protein C and S dependent on?
Vitamin K dependent (like II, VII, IX, and X)
How does protein C and S degrade Va and VIIIa?
- Thrombin binds to endothelial receptor thrombomodulin
- Thrombin + thrombomodulin cleave Protein C to form activated Protein C (APC)
- Protein S complexes to activated Protein C (APC) which degrade Va and VIIIa
What is Factor V Leiden?
Factor V Leiden is a genetic mutation seen in 3-8% of Northern European Caucausians causing the Factor V molecule to be resistant to Activated Protein C causing a 3-18 fold increased risk of thrombosis.
What does the Activated Protein C Resistance test do?
Activated Protein C Resistance: test for Factor V Leiden Mutation which provides resistance of Factor V to Activated Protein C. Abnormalities should be confirmed by DNA testing.
What is looked at in Factor V Leiden DNA testing?
Factor V Leiden DNA testing: describes as single point mutation which provides the resistance to APC.
● DNA testing important to confirm heterozygous or homozygous state.
What test discovers a gene defect that leads to increased amounts of Prothrombin and increased risk of thrombosis?
Prothrombin Mutation Test (G20210A)
● Is also a gene defect which results to increased amounts of Prothrombin and increased risk of thrombosis.
● Presence detected by DNA testing.