Embolus vs. thrombus
Here are a few very good questions about CNS infarcts. There are two types: red (hemorrhagic) and pale (ischemic). (more…)
Here are a few very good questions about CNS infarcts. There are two types: red (hemorrhagic) and pale (ischemic). (more…)
Q. I have a question about the coagulation lab tests. I saw that an increased PT would result from Coumadin and Heparin. (more…)
Hooray! Our second study guide, Clot or Bleed: A Painless Guide for People Who Hate Coag, is now available on Amazon’s Kindle store and on iBooks. (more…)
There are some Pathology Student posts that readers seem to turn to over and over.
Q. What’s the whole deal with Gla residues, vitamin K and the Coumadin drugs?
Q. Does medullary expansion mainly happen in alpha thalassemia patients because they cannot make any useful hemoglobin due the the absence of the alpha chain? (more…)
Q. Why is there a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and disseminated intravascular coagulation?
Finally…our new coag study guide (Clot or Bleed: A Painless Guide for People Who Hate Coag) is available. (more…)
Q. I had some confusion on why the PT, PTT, and TT are prolonged in disseminated intravascular coagulation. Intuitively I thought they might be shorter because everything is already present and turned on due to the constant state of coagulation, but the only way I can think it might be prolonged would be that are the factors being used up which then shows up as a long PT, PTT and TT? If you could just clarify that for me that would be great.
A. Yes! That’s exactly why they are prolonged! In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) there’s a ton of clotting going on – so the platelets and coag factors are getting used up. As the coag factors get used up, the PT (prothrombin time), PTT (partial thromboplastin time) and TT (thrombin time) go up. You also see increased FDPs (fibrin degradation products) – but that’s an incredibly sensitive test, best used for other purposes.
By the way, Ed’s Pathology Notes has a way to remember the seriousness of DIC – he calls it “Death is Coming.”
Q. How come the PT and PTT are not increased in TTP and HUS? You have clots all over, so why don’t the coag tests go up like they do in DIC? (more…)
Recent Comments