Venous Thrombosis, PE and Shock Flashcards
Define thrombus.
How does it differ from a clot?
A thrombus is a solid, intravascular mass formed from circulating blood elements DURING LIFE.
A clot is formed intravascularly post mortum or extravascularly in the presence of hemorrhage (like in a test tube or body cavity)
What are the four major circulating elements that compose a thrombi?
- fibrin (from polymerization of fibrinogen)
- platelets
- leukocytes
- RBC
What is Virchow’s Triad?
These are the three things that would predispose a person to thrombus.
- endothelial damage
- disruption of normal blood flow
- hypercoagulability of circulating blood
Endothelial abnormalities can occur anywhere in the circulatory system, although they are most important for thrombi formation when they occur in what two places?
- Arteries
- Cardiac chambers
(sometimes venous)
What are the three main ways that endothelial cells maintain blood in normal fluid state?
- prevent platelet adhesion and aggregation (blocking ECM and secreting NO and prostacyclin)
- inactivate thrombin and other parts of the coagulation cascade, activating protein C (via thrombomodulin and heparin-like molecules respectively)
- breaking down local fibrin deposits (synthesis of tissue plasminogen activator TPA that has fibrinolytic effects)
What are the two ways endothelial cells prevent platelet adhesion and aggregation under normal circumstances?
- Block platelets from subendothelial ECM
2. Inhibiting local adhesion via elaboration of anti-platelet effects (NO and prostacyclin)
How do normal endothelial cells inactivate thrombin and other coagulation cascade components?
- inactivate thrombin via heparin-like molecules
2. activating protein C (anticoagulant) via thrombomodulin
How do normal endothelial cells ensure the break down of local fibrin deposits?
They synthesize tissue plasminogen activator TPA which has fibrinolytic effects
How does endothelial damage promote thrombus formation?
- Damage exposes the subendothelial ECM which allows binding of platelets to it via vWF
- Procoagulant molecules are synthesized like tissue factor (activator or coagulation cascade) and inhibitors of TPA
What allows platelets to bind to the subendothelial ECM after endothelial cell damage?
von Willebrand Factor (vWF)
What procoagulant molecules are synthesized when endothelial cells are damaged?
- tissue factor- an initiator of coagulation cascade
2. inhibitors of TPA
What are the two ways that normal laminar blood flow can be interrupted? Which one is the biggest cause of thrombus?
- stasis- biggest cause of thrombus
2. abnormal tubulence
Endothelial abnormalities play a large role in thrombi in ________ and ________ whereas stasis plays a large role in _________ thrombi.
Endothelial abnormalities- arteries, cardiac chambers
Stasis- venous thrombi
What are the four most important consequences of stasis interrupting normal laminar blood flow?
- platelets are brought in contact with endothelial surface
- Activated coagulation factors reach high local concentrations
- Inflow of factors that inhibit coagulation cascade decrease
- endothelial cells are activated due to increased contact with platelets
What are the two main types of hypercoagulability?
- Primary- hereditary
2. Secondary- acquired
Although _____________ states are less commonly responsible for thrombi, they should be considered in any thrombotic episode and carefully excluded in patients with _______________.
Hypercoagulability; recurrent thrombi
What is the most important cause of arterial thrombosis?
atherosclerosis- by virtue of its association with endothelial injury and in many cases disruption of normal blood flow
What accounts for most cases of venous thrombosis?
Hypercoagulability and stasis (together or alone)
What specific clinical condition causes venous thrombosis due to endothelial damage (a rareity)?
Phlebitis- inflammation of the veins
What are five disease states associated with stasis?
- CHF and atrial fibrillation - venous backup
- Bedrest/immobilization
- Pregnancy- uterus compresses pelvic veins (decreased flow back to heart)
- Obesity- compression of veins
- Soft tissue/bone injury
What are 3 examples of acquired hypercoagulability?
- systemic malignancies- neoplasms like adenocarcinomas
- antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
- smoking and oral contraceptives
What are 5 examples of hereditary hypercoagulability?
- Factor V Leiden mutation
- Thrombin mutation
- Protein C deficiency
- Protein S deficiency
- Antithrombin III deficiency
A patient that has what disease would have hyperviscous blood contributing to disrupted laminar flow?
Sickle Cell
What are the three steps in the formation of a venous thrombi?
- Disruption of laminar flow (stasis) brings platelets in contact with endothelial cells, activating them
- Local platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation
- accumulation of leukocytes
What events are associated with the activation of platelets?
- Release of calcium, ADP, TXA2 which promotes further activation of platelets and aggregation
- activation of intrinsic coagulation factors
What is platelet aggregation?
the formation of linkage between fibrinogen of the ECM and platelets via GpIIb/GIIIa glycoprotein receptors on the surface of platelets
When a platelet aggregate forms, what things are released, expressed, and generated?
- release of ADP and TXA2
- expression of platelet membrane phosoholipid complexes (irreversible)
- generation of thrombin
What are the four most important consequences of local activation of the coagulation cascade?
- thrombin promotes further platelet activation and leukocyte adhesion leading to the formation of an irreversibly fused, contracted platelet mass
- Fibrin forms from fibrinogen (catalyzed by thrombin) and with activated factor 13 forms a cross-linked fibrin meshwork
- Fibrin meshwork traps erythrocytes, platelets, and leukocytes contributing to mass of thrombus
- As thrombus enlarges, it causes further stasis which increased local concentration of coagulation factors and reduces delivery of anticoagulants
What allows you to grossly differentiate a thrombi from a clot?
Lines of Zahn- the aggregates of platelet, leukocytes and fibrin appear as grey-tan lines
Where do lines of Zahn become less obvious?
In areas distal to the origination point of the propogating thrombus
The clinical diagnosis of venous thrombosis is difficult. Superficial venous thrombi may cause ______________ and _______. Deeper thrombi may cause _______________ distal to the site of obstruction.
Superficial - local swelling and pain (heat and tender)
Deeper- edema of the extremity distal to the site of obstruction
Most venous thrombi are ______ and the first clue to their presence may be a ____________.
clinically silent until a pulmonary embolism occurs
Since embolisms compromise the lumen of the vessel, they can cause what?
local ischemic injury (particularly with arterial thrombi) and infarct if the ischemia is sufficient to cause cell death
What are the three fates of a thrombi?
- Dissolution
- Organization and recanalization
- Embolism
How can a thrombi be dissolved?
Fibrinolytic (TPA) dissolves the fibrin matrix that holds the thrombus together and the patency of the vessel is restored
What would cause organization of the thrombus?
If the thrombus persists long enough for fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells to migrate into the fibrin-rich thrombus
What are the three potential outcomes of organization of a thrombus?
- a small, collagen rich scar incorporates into the vessel wall
- calcification of the thrombus (visible in x-rays as phleboliths)
- recanalization where new vessels are developed within the substance of the thrombus