Consumable coagulopathy is located in a disease area that deals with disorders of coagulation. The coagulability of the blood is a vital property which is disturbed to a greater or lesser extent in consumption coagulopathy.
What is consumption coagulopathy?
Consumption coagulopathy has this apt name because this disease is accompanied by a reduction in the so-called coagulation factors and the blood platelets or thrombocytes responsible for blood clotting. For all you need to know about hyperlexia, please visit phonecations.com.
The aggregation of blood platelets (coagulation) in the event of an injury helps a wound to close quickly and allows the escaping blood to solidify. In consumption coagulopathy, there is an increase in the willingness to coagulate, which is evident within the blood vessels.
The coagulation factors that are additionally used up in consumption coagulopathy include the proteins dissolved in the blood plasma or present on the thrombocytes, such as fibrinogen, proaczelerin, prothrombin and others.
Causes
Consumable coagulopathy usually occurs in connection with various previous illnesses, which lead to irregularities in the coagulation system. Since consumption coagulopathy can always be linked to other health disorders, this clinical picture is not independent.
Both acute and chronic consumption coagulopathy can occur as a result of a loss of liver tissue ( liver cirrhosis ), poisoning or so-called haemoblastosis. The liver in particular is significantly involved in the production of coagulation factors, so that consumption coagulopathy occurs in the event of restricted functionality.
Other causes of consumption coagulopathy are shock and severe blood poisoning, acute leukemia, extreme blood loss due to extensive injuries, acute inflammation of the pancreas ( pancreatitis ) and amniotic fluid embolism.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
Symptoms of consumption coagulopathy appear as side effects to other diseases. If they do, they regularly refer to life-threatening complications. The high tendency to bleed means that patients bleed to death internally. Bleeding of the skin and mucous membranes is typical. Externally, hematomas or bruises are visible, which can appear anywhere on the body.
The end phalanges of the toes and fingers turn bluish. It is not uncommon for bleeding to occur in internal organs. The kidneys, stomach and intestines are affected. In severe cases, acute liver failure occurs . In addition, unspecific side effects arise. In addition to fever, the lack of oxygen can also lead to fainting and shortness of breath. The cycle then breaks down regularly.
The list of diseases that cause consumption coagulopathy is long. Infectious patients favor them, as do those who have been in shock. The secondary disease has also been proven after severe burns or heat stroke.
Someone whose body releases large amounts of prothrombin activators as a result of surgery is also at risk of having a coagulation disorder. Women sometimes suffer from consumption coagulopathy with birth complications such as amniotic fluid embolism. Advanced cancer can also cause it to develop.
Diagnosis & History
The course of consumption coagulopathy involves three stages, which are categorized as pathological activation of blood coagulation, a lack of coagulation factors and an inability to coagulate.
In the last phase of consumptive coagulation, the factors at the top of the coagulation process, such as platelets and antithrombin, are no longer available in sufficient quantity. As a result, shock occurs in those affected by consumption coagulopathy, which leads to multi-organ failure. In contrast, consumption coagulopathy can cause people to bleed to death because the so-called bleeding tendency is extremely high.
The specific symptoms of the disease are decisive for the diagnosis of consumption coagulopathy. In the case of consumption coagulopathy, these are substantiated by laboratory tests (quantitative determination of platelets, coagulation tests with blood plasma).
Complications
In consumption coagulopathy, those affected usually suffer from a severe blood clotting disorder. The blood takes a relatively long time to clot, so bleeding cannot be stopped easily. Even very minor injuries or cuts can lead to severe bleeding, which in the worst case can lead to bleeding and the death of the person concerned.
Furthermore, skin bleeding often occurs, so that those affected also suffer from aesthetic complaints. Many patients feel uncomfortable with it and also suffer from inferiority complexes or a significantly reduced sense of self-esteem. Consumable coagulopathy can cause the skin to turn blue because the internal organs are no longer supplied with enough oxygen.
Bleeding from the internal organs themselves is not uncommon and can seriously damage the organs in question. In the case of surgical interventions in particular, patients must inform their doctor in good time about consumption coagulopathy. Consumable coagulopathy usually only needs to be treated if bleeding actually occurs. Those affected are dependent on taking medication. Other complications usually do not arise.
When should you go to the doctor?
Since consumption coagulopathy cannot heal on its own, those affected should always consult a doctor if they have this disease. This is the only way to prevent further complications or complaints, so that a doctor should be contacted as soon as the first symptoms or signs of the disease appear. Early diagnosis always has a positive effect on the further course of this disease.
A doctor should be consulted for consumption coagulopathy if the person concerned suffers from bruises all over the body. These bruises appear for no particular reason and usually don’t go away on their own. The disease also leads to high fever and liver failure, so that these symptoms can also indicate consumption coagulopathy. These symptoms can occur especially after a heat stroke or after a severe burn and should be examined by a doctor.
The first examination can be carried out by a general practitioner. For further treatment, a visit to a specialist is usually necessary. It cannot be generally predicted whether the disease will lead to a reduced life expectancy.
Treatment & Therapy
Consumable coagulopathy is usually associated with a severe depletion of the blood volume as a result of another disease or an operation or an accident.
For this reason, a tangible therapy for consumption coagulopathy is not always easy to implement. In the treatment of consumption coagulopathy, the treatment of the causative disease is the priority. The treatments of consumption coagulopathy are based in particular on achieving effects that reduce the risks of consumption coagulopathy.
In this regard, it makes sense to first “replenish” the lost coagulation factors, including the thrombocytes. Special platelet concentrates are available for this purpose, which can be administered by infusion. For these life-threatening emergencies, the blood donation facilities and clinics have what is known as fresh-frozen (freshly frozen) plasma, which can be quickly thawed and infused.
This plasma is not only enriched with thrombocytes, but also contains large concentrations of coagulation factors against consumption coagulopathy. Treatment of consumption coagulopathy requires constant medical monitoring and is therefore carried out in intensive care units.
If it was determined in consumption coagulopathy that there was thrombocytopenia (the number of blood platelets below the normal value) and a disruption in the function of the platelets, treatment with desmopressin was carried out. If consumption coagulopathy occurs as a result of coumarin poisoning, vitamin K is given.
Prevention
A blood coagulation disorder, which can cause consumption coagulopathy, is difficult to prevent. People who suffer from the symptoms described should build up a lifestyle that is as healthy as possible and have their coagulation values checked regularly. In addition, patients with classic diseases that cause consumption coagulopathy live with an increased risk, which must be taken seriously.
Aftercare
Depending on how severe the disease is, there is always a risk for those affected that suddenly uncontrollable bleeding will occur. Internal injuries can lead to serious impairments for those affected. Patients should urgently undergo alcohol withdrawal, otherwise serious complications and rapid deterioration of the disease can occur.
Those affected should always maintain contact with family and friends and inform them sufficiently about the disease. In emergencies, relatives can act immediately. In other situations in which those affected need help, they can then ask relatives for it. Therefore, they should always carry an ID card with them that lists the medication they are taking. In an emergency, doctors can then take correct action immediately.
The diet should be very balanced and rich in vitamins, enough sport is also supportive for recovery. It is important that those affected learn to live with the disease. Long-term psychological counseling can be useful for this. A self-help group would also be advisable. There, those affected can exchange ideas with other sufferers and find other ways of living with the disease.
You can do that yourself
Adaptations in everyday life to consumption coagulopathy depend on the extent of the disease. There is always a risk of bleeding that is difficult to stop. This can lead to serious complications for patients in the event of internal injuries.
If the consumption coagulopathy is hereditary, the causal treatment is not possible. In the case where the reduced blood clotting ability is due to the use of certain drugs or even alcohol abuse, alternative treatment methods or, if appropriate, alcohol withdrawal should be considered. In the case of artificially induced blood thinning due to the intake of so-called coagulation inhibitors, there is a need for increased vigilance in order to avoid any injuries as far as possible due to the increased risk of bleeding. It is also recommended that those affected carry a special ID card stating that they are taking anticoagulant medication.
If the consumption coagulopathy is the underlying cause of a disease, such as sepsis, the causative pathogens should be treated and eliminated as a matter of urgency. If this does not happen, serious complications can occur, in particular acute kidney failure is possible.
Those affected can also achieve an improvement in symptoms by incorporating sporting activities into their everyday lives. A healthy diet is also important for those affected, as this helps to avoid mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
