PATHOLOGY - Haemostatic Disorders Flashcards
Describe primary haemostasis
Primary haemostasis is when there is damage to the endothelium, triggering vasoconstriction and platelet plug formation. Where there is damage to the endothelium, these damaged endothelial cells release von willebrands factors which come into contact with and bind to the now exposed subendothelial collagen. Circulating platelets bind to these von willebrands factors, activating the platelets which will release ADP and thromboxane A which attract and activate more platelets which will aggregate to form a platelet plug as well as a scaffolding system allowing for the binding of fibrinogen
Describe secondary haemostasis
Secondary haemostasis is where the extrinsic coagulation cascade is triggered by exposure of subendothelial tissue factor and the intrinsic coagulation cascade is triggered by exposure of subendothelial collagen. Both of these cascades will trigger the final common pathway which converts prothrombin the thrombin through the action of thromboplastin enzymes, and thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin which forms a cross-linked fibrin network to form a clot
Which coagulation factors are involved in the extrinsic coagulation cascade?
Factor VII
Factor X
Which coagulation factors are involved in the intrinsic coagulation cascade?
Factor VIII
Factor IX
Factor X
Factor XI
Factor XII
Which coagulation factors are involved in the final common pathway?
Factor I
Factor II
Factor XIII
Which factors are involved in modulating coagulation?
Antithrombin
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor
Protein C - Protein S system
Describe tertiary haemostasis
Tertiary haemostasis is the process of fibrinolysis where the presence of fibrin triggers enzyme t-PA which converts circulating plasminogen into plasmin which breaks down the fibrin clot
Which history questions should you consider when investigating a possible haemostatic disorder case?
Has the patient had any exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides?
Is the patient regularly wormed?
Is there a history of travel outside of the UK?
Has the patient been systemically ill in the run up to the bleeding?
What can be indicated by young animals presenting with spontaneous bleeding?
Congenital haemostatic disorders
List four examples of primary haemostasic disorders
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopathia
Von willebrands disease
Vasculopathies
Which two laboratory tests can you do to investigate primary haemostatic disorders?
Manual and automated platelet count
Buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT)
What would be an adequate number of platelets when doing a manual platelet count using a blood smear?
10 to 15 platelets per x100 power view would be an adequate number of platelets
What value would be indicative of thrombocytopenia when using an automated analyser for platelet counts?
Less than 50 x 10^9/litre
At what value would spontenous bleeding begin when using an automated analyser for platelet counts?
Less than 30 x 10^9/litre
Why is it so important to check the blood smear as well as the automated platelet count value?
It is important to check the smear for platelet clumping which could lead to inaccurate values counted by the automated analyser
What should you be aware of when doing automated platelet counts in cats?
Cat platelets are approximately the size of erythrocytes and thus the platelets are often miscounted by automated analysers
Which dog breed normally has a low platelet count?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
This low platelet count is normal for them
What can be tested by doing a buccal mucosal bleeding test (BMBT)?
Platelet function
How do you carry out a buccal mucosal bleeding test (BMBT)?
Using a gadget to make a uniform incision into the buccal mucosa and time how long is takes for the mucosa to stop bleeding. The bleeding should cease within 2 to 4 minutes
What are six key clinical signs of thrombocytopenia?
Petechiation
Ecchymoses
Epistaxis
Gastrointestinal bleeding (i.e. meleana)
Bleeding from gums
Clinical signs associated with haemorrhagic anaemia
Thrombocytopenia is heavily associated with mucosal bleeding
What are four possible causes of thrombocytopenia?
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)
Primary bone marrow disease
Infectious diseases
Increased platelet consumption
What is the signalement for immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Medium sized dogs usually between 4 - 5 years old
Which breed of dog is predisposed to immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Cocker Spaniels
What are the typical clinical signs of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Signs of a primary haemostatic disorder
Anaemia
What causes anaemia in immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP) causes spontaneous bleeding throughout the body which can cause anaemia
What is Evan’s syndrome?
Evan’s syndrome is a very rare syndrome where immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP) presents concurrently with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)
How do you diagnose immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
- Detect thrombocytopenia on a platelet count - tends to have a very low platelet count of less than 30 x 10^9/litre
- Exclude any other causes of thrombocytopenia
How do you manage and treat patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Gentle handling is very important
Blood transfusion if severly anaemic
Immunosuppressive therapy
Low dose vincristine
Omeprazole
What can you administer to immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP) patients that are refractory to immunosuppressive treatment?
Human intravenous immunoglobulins
Why would you administer low dose vincristine to patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Vincristine stimulates platelet release from the bone marrow
Why would you administer omeprazole to patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP) can cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding and since steroids are being administered as immunosuppressive therapy, they can cause gastrointestinal ulceration which can also cause bleeding. Omeprazole protects the GI tract from ulceration
What is the prognosis for patients with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP)?
Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMTP) causes spontaneous bleeding which can eventually cause death