Lecture 9 - Intro To Haemostasis Flashcards
What is haemostasis?
Maintenance of fluid status in normal vessels whilst permitting rapid formation of a haemostatic clot at a sit of vascular injury
What are the 3 components of haemostasis?
Vascular wall
Platelets
Coagulation cascade:
-Coagulation factors
-Anticoagulant factors
What is the basic aim of normal haemostasis?
Stopping bleeding following trauma to blood vessel
What are the 3 general processes of stopping normal bleeding?
Vessel wall contracts
Platelet plug forms
Fibrin clot forms to stabilise
How does vessel size relate to bleeding from the vessel?
larger vessel = more bleeding
What cells are platelets made from?
Megakaryocytes
Where are megakaryocytes/platelets made?
In the bone marrow
What is the normal platelet count?
150 - 400 x 10^9/L
What 3 stages do platelets go through when a vessel is injured?
Adhesion
Activation
Aggregation (Forms platelet clot)
How do platelets adhere to blood vessels?
Collagen from tunica adventitia exposed
Von Willebrand factor produced by vascular endothelial cells binds to platelets binding the platelets to the collagen fibres adhering them
When platelets are activated what do they secrete?
Granules containg:
-Fibrinogen
-ADP
-Thromboxane
-Some coagulation factors
And more substances to activate other platelets
What is platelet aggregation?
When platelets cross link to form a platelet plug
Platelet plug adds some stability but is quite weak
What is the role of collagen in platelets action?
Binds platelets to vessel wall
What is the role of Von Willebrand factor?
To get platelets to adhere to the collagen
What is the role of ADP and Thromboxane?
Cause platelets to interact and form a platelet plug
What is the role of Thrombin?
Converts fibrinogen to fibrin
Why is formation of fibrin important?
It is insoluble so is what forms the stable clot
What is a zymogen?
A proenzyme (enzyme that is not active)
What is the clotting cascade aiming to produce?
What is the point of producing this?
Thrombin
Thrombin needed to convert fibrinogen into fibrin
Why does fibrinogen need to be converted into fibrin?
Fibrinogen is soluble
Fibrin is insoluble
Why do natural anticoagulants exist?
To carefully balanced the clotting cascade to prevent over clotting
What are the 2 pathways of the clotting cascade that lead to the common pathway?
Intrinsic pathway (contact activation pathway
Extrinsic pathway (tissue factor pathway)
What do both the intrinsic pathway and the extrinsic pathway produce which is the common insertion point into the common pathway?
Factor X (10)
What does Factor X (10) do in the common pathway?
Convert prothrombin to thrombin
Where are most the coagulation factors made?
The Liver
What are the 3 coagulation tests for clotting defects?
APTT (Activated partial Thromboplastin time)
PT (Prothromin time)
TT (Thrombin time)
What pathways does PT (prothrombin time) measure?
Extrinsic pathway
The function of what clotting factor is assed by PT (extrinsic pathway)?
Factor VII
What pathway is the (Activated partial thromboplastin time) APTT measuring the functioning of?
Intrinsic pathway
What does increased/abnormal APTT and PT indicate?
Problem in common pathway
(From factor X downwards)
Usually deficient Factor V, X, thrombin an fibrinogen
What does Thrombin clotting time measure?
Conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin via action of thrombin
If somebody has Haemophilia A or B what anticoagulation test is abnormal?
APTT (activated partial thromboplastin)
What happens to the vessel wall when damaged?
Vasoconstriction (Reduce blood flow/bleeding)
Producing Von Willebrand factor (so platelets stick to the collagen)
Exposure of platen and tissue factor initiates activation of clotting factors
What is the goal of haemostasis?
Make a clot
Control clotting
Break down clot
What 3 natural anticoagulants?
Protein C
Proteins S
Antithrombin
What Factors does Protein C inactivate?
Factor VIIIa
Factor Va