Bleeding disorders Flashcards
What two categories of bleeding disorder are there
Bleeding
Thrombosis
What categories of bleeding are there?
Primary haemostasis failure
Secondary haemostasis failure
What components of primary haemostasis can be defective?
Collagen (vessels)
Platelets
von WIllebrand Factor
What general symptoms can collagen defects cause?
East bruising and bleeding into the skin
Rarely bleed from mucous membranes
What are some hereditary collagen defects?
Marfans
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)
How is hereditary haemorrhagic telangictasia (HHT) inehrited?
Autosomally
Describe HHT
Capillary dilation gives small red dots that blanch- mainly in nose and GI tract
What are some symptoms of HHT?
Epistaxis
GI bleeds- lead to iron deficient anaemia
What are some acquired causes of collagen defects?
Vasculitis Scurvy Senile purpura Steroid induced Infection- Meningococcal septicaemia Henoch–Schönlein purpura
Describe Henoch-Schonlein purpura
Type III hypersensitivity (immune complex) caused but acute URTI.
Ab against cell wall
What are some symptoms of Henoch–Schönlein purpura?
Mainly in children
Purpura in legs and buttocks, abdo pain, arthritis, hematuria, glomerulonephritis
What infection classically gives purpura due to damage to cell walls?
Meningococcal septicaemia
What symptoms characterize platelet defective/deficient primary haemostatic failure?
Purpura and mucosal bleeding.
How may platelets cause uncontrolled bleeding?
Reduced number (thrombocytopenia) Reduced platelet function
What does the platelet count look like in patients with reduced platelet function?
Normal or increased
How does the bleed time change in patients with reduced platelet function?
Prolonges
What are some hereditary causes of reduced platelet function?
Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia
Bernard–Soulier syndrome
Storage pool disease
Describe Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia
Lack GPIIb-IIIa on platelets therefore fibrinogen cannot bind and cause aggregation.
Describe Bernard–Soulier syndrome
Lack GPIb therefore cannot bind to vWF.
What are some acquired causes of reduced platelet function?
Drugs- Aspirin, NSAIDs
Renal failure- Urea can interfere with platelet function
What is a reduced platelet number called?
Thrombocytopenia
What is the commonest cause of primary haemostatic failure?
Thrombocytopenia
Is thrombocytopenia usually hereditary or acquired?
Acquired
How do you investigate thrombocytopenia?
Bone marrow biopsy