Thrombosis, embolism, ischaemia and infarction Flashcards
Definition of thrombus
Solid mass of blood constituents formed within the vascular system in life.
Predisposing factors = Virchow’s triad
Abnormalities of the vessels wall (intima).
Abnormalities of blood flow.
Abnormalities of blood constituents.
Arterial thrombosis is most commonly superimposed by…
Atheroma
Venous thrombosis most commonly due to…
Stasis
What are the clinical consequences of thrombosis?
Arterial: tissue infarction distally
Venous: (oedema due to impaired venous drainage) and embolism.
Platelets
Angular in appearance, anucleated.
Derived from megakaryocytes.
Contain mitochondria and cytoskeletal elements.
Platelets also contain alpha granules and dense granules.
Alpha granules in platelets:
Stores substances involved in platelet adhesion to damaged vessel walls (fibrinogen, fibronectin, PDGF, antiheparin).
Dense granules in platelets:
Substances such as ADP which is needed for aggregation.
What activates platelets?
When they come into contact with collagen or with polymerising fibrin.
Platelets change shape and extend pseudopodia; granules release content and forms a mess until endothelial cells regenerate.
If this happens in an intact vessel= thrombus.
True or false?
All three of the predisposing factors have to happen for thrombosis to happen?
False.
Arterial thrombosis (early phase)
Atheromatous plaque= slightly raised fatty streak on the intimal surface of any artery.
Arterial thrombosis (later phase)
Plaque enlarges, raised enough to protrude into the lumen and cause a degree of turbulence.
What is the result of turbulence?
Loss of intimal cells - denuded plaque surface is now presented to blood cells.
Turbulence itself predisposes to:
Fibrin deposition and platelet clumping. The bare luminal surface will have collagen exposed and platelets will adhere to this.
What factors are altered in a smoker?
All three - changes in blood constituents are now present too.
Why is this process self-perpetuating?
Alpha granules release PDGFs - proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells = important constituent of atheromatous plaque.
Layers of thrombus
Platelet layer is first.
Fibrin meshwork on top which entraps RBCs.
These bands are alternating.
How is turbulence affected in thrombus?
Greatest at the downstream side of arterial thrombi and on the upstream side of venous thrombi.
Therefor thrombi grow in the direction of blood flow = PROPAGATION.
Where do most venous thrombi begin?
BP is lower so thrombi is not due to atheroma.
Most being at valves.
What is the reason this (most common place for venous thrombi to occur)?
Valves naturally produce a degree of turbulence because they protrude into the vessel lumen.
They can also be damaged by trauma/stasis and occlusion.
What are two scenarios that allow thrombus formation?
If BP falls during surgery or following an infarct.
Venous return is highly dependent on muscle pumps - immobilisation enhances risks.
What are the clinical effects of arterial thrombosis?
Loss of pulses distal to the thrombus and signs of impaired blood supply: cold, pale, painful and tissue dies resulting in gangrene.
What are the clinical effects of venous thrombosis?
95% occurs in leg veins - area becomes tender, swollen and reddened. (blood is still carried to the site by arteries but cannot be taken away).
Tenderness is due to ischaemia in the vein wall.
Fate of thrombi?
1- Best case: resolves.
2- May become organised into a scars (due to the invasion of macrophages= clears it away) then fibroblasts which lay collagen; occasionally leaving a mural nodule or web that narrows the vessel.
3 - Intimal cells may proliferate - small capillaries grow into the thrombus: later fuse into large vessels = recanalisation.
4 - Causes death due to affecting vital centres.
5 - Fragments can break off - forming embolism.