Can result in uncontrolled haemorrhaging into joints, muscles and deep tissues with the formation of haematoma. Coagulation disorders may be:
Hereditary
- haemophilia A due to a deficiency of clotting factor VIII (commonest hereditary coagulation disorder),
- haemophilia B (Christmas disease) due to a deficiency of factor IX
- Von Willebrand’s disease caused by a deficiency or abnormality of the von Willebrand factor resulting in a defect in platelet adhesion. Haemophilia is carried by the female and affects males.
Acquired
- Vitamin K deficiency
- Severe liver disease, and disseminated intravascular haemolysis (DIC) associated with infections.
- Obstetric complications (septic abortion, eclampsia, fetal retention, ruptured uterus).
- Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
- Snake envenomation.
- Malignancies.
- Overdose of anticoagulant drugs, e.g. warfarin.
Laboratory investigations
- Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).
- Prothrombin time (PT). This test is also used in monitoring patients being treated with warfarin oral anticoagulant.
- Thrombin time (TT) test
Lablink 