Thrombotic Disorders Flashcards
What are the main components of primary haemostasis?
Vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation
These processes help to quickly form a temporary plug at the site of blood vessel injury.
What is the result of blood coagulation?
Insoluble fibrin formation, fibrin cross-linking
This process solidifies the platelet plug into a stable clot.
What are the three elements of Virchow’s Triad?
Stasis, hypercoagulability, vessel damage
These factors contribute to the development of thrombosis.
What characterizes an arterial thrombus?
‘White clot’ composed of platelets and fibrin
This type of thrombus can lead to ischaemia and infarction.
List two examples of arterial thromboembolism.
- Coronary thrombosis
- Cerebrovascular thromboembolism
Examples include myocardial infarction and stroke.
What are some risk factors for arterial thrombosis?
- Age
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Obesity
- Hypercholesterolaemia
These factors increase the likelihood of developing arterial thrombosis.
What is the focus of management in arterial thrombosis?
Primary prevention, acute presentation treatment, secondary prevention
Approaches include lifestyle modification and use of thrombolysis or antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs.
What characterizes a venous thrombus?
‘Red thrombus’ composed of fibrin and red cells
This type of thrombus typically occurs due to stasis and hypercoagulability.
Name two types of venous thromboembolism.
- Limb deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
These conditions can result from venous thrombus formation.
What are some systemic diseases associated with venous thrombosis?
- Cancer
- Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)
- Autoimmune diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, connective tissue disease)
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
These conditions can increase the risk of venous thrombosis.
What is the purpose of pretest probability scoring in diagnosing venous thrombosis?
To assess the likelihood of venous thrombosis
Tools like the Wells score and Geneva score are commonly used.
What imaging techniques are used for diagnosing venous thrombosis?
- Doppler ultrasound
- VQ scan
- CT pulmonary angiogram
These methods help visualize clots in the venous system.
What are the aims of managing venous thrombosis?
- Prevent clot extension
- Prevent clot embolisation
- Prevent clot recurrence in long-term treatment
Management strategies are focused on reducing the risk of complications.
List some anticoagulants used in the treatment of thrombosis.
- LMWH
- Coumarins (warfarin)
- DOACs
These medications are used to reduce the risk of clot formation.
What is heritable thrombophilia?
An inherited predisposition to venous thrombosis
Individuals with this condition are at increased risk for developing clots.
What is microvascular thrombus primarily associated with?
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
This condition leads to diffuse ischaemia due to thrombus formation in small blood vessels.
What causes DIC?
- Septicaemia
- Malignancy
- Eclampsia
These conditions trigger diffuse systemic coagulation activation, leading to tissue ischaemia and other complications.
What are some potential complications of DIC?
- Tissue ischaemia
- Gangrene
- Organ failure
- Consumption of platelets and clotting factors leading to bleeding
DIC can have severe consequences if not managed appropriately.
