Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Clinical Determination of Coagulation Value Coagulation tests are conducted to check the ability of the blood to clot, along with the time taken to form the clot. If the doctor suspects a clotting disorder, he or she may recommend the individual to undertake the coagulation test. These tests help assess the risk and probability of unusual bleeding or development of blood clots in the blood vessels. These tests are conducted by testing the blood sample, which is taken from the vein either on the back of the hand or inside the elbow. There are different types of coagulation tests including complete blood count, factor V assay, fibrinogen level test, pro-thrombin time, platelets count, thrombin time, and bleeding time. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation In disseminated intravascular coagulation the platelets tend to clot in blood vessels throughout the body due to the abnormal functioning of clotting factors. It is not a genetic disorder. In DIC, the enzyme thrombin and the glycoprotein, known as prothrombin, is impaired and does not function normally, which triggers the fibrinolytic system that in turn releases the clotting factors in the bloodstream. People who suffer from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) are likely to suffer from abnormal bleeding, even without any history of abnormality of coagulation. Symptoms of DIC include hemorrhage spotting over skin and hematomas or purple-colored patches on the skin due to bleeding into the skin. Major symptoms of DIC include vomiting, seizures, breathlessness, coma, backache, pain in muscles, pain in the abdomen, and shock. Causes of DIC include pregnancy complications, acute leukemia, metastatic cancer, deep burns, snakebites, and overwhelming infections.

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