Consumption Coagulopathy

The Consumption Coagulopathy is located in a disease area that involves disorders of coagulation. The ability of the blood to clot is a vital property which is disturbed to a greater or lesser extent in consumption coagulopathy.

What is Consumption Coagulopathy?

The Consumption Coagulopathy has this apt name because this disease is associated with a reduction in the so-called coagulation factors and the platelets or thrombocytes responsible for blood clotting.

The clumping of blood platelets (coagulation) in the event of an injury helps a wound to close quickly and the blood that is released to solidify. In the case of consumption coagulopathy, there is an increase in the willingness to clot, which is evident within the blood vessels.

The coagulation factors additionally used up in consumption coagulopathy include the proteins dissolved in the blood plasma or present on the platelets such as fibrinogen, pro-accelerin, prothrombin and others.

causes

The Consumption Coagulopathy Usually arises in connection with various previous illnesses which lead to irregularities in the coagulation system. Since a connection to other health disorders can always be found in consumption coagulopathy, this clinical picture is not independent.

Both acute and chronic consumption coagulopathy can occur as a result of shrinkage of liver tissue (liver cirrhosis), poisoning or so-called haemoblastoses. The liver, in particular, is significantly involved in the production of the 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 a concomitant phenomenon to other diseases. If they come up, they regularly refer to life-threatening complications. The high bleeding tendency means that the sick bleed to death internally. Skin and mucous membrane bleeding are typical. Outwardly, bruises or bruises are visible that can appear anywhere on the body.

The end links of the toes and fingers turn bluish in color. It is not uncommon for additional bleeding to occur in internal organs. The kidneys, stomach and intestines are affected. In severe cases, acute liver failure occurs. In addition, there are unspecific side effects. In addition to fever, the lack of oxygen supply can also lead to fainting and shortness of breath. The cycle then breaks down regularly.

The list of diseases that give rise to consumption coagulopathy is long. Infectious patients benefit them just as much as those who have been in shock. The secondary disease has also been proven after severe burns or heat stroke.

Anyone whose body releases large amounts of prothrombin activators as a result of an operation also risks clotting disorders. Women sometimes suffer from consumption coagulopathy with birth complications such as amniotic fluid embolism. Cancer at an advanced stage can also cause it to develop.

Diagnosis & course

When the Consumption Coagulopathy It is about three stages, which are categorized as pathological activation of blood clotting, a lack of clotting factors and an inability to clot.

In the last phase of consumption coagulation, the factors that are at the top of the coagulation process, as well as platelets and antithrombin, are no longer available in sufficient quantities. As a result, those affected by consumption coagulopathy experience a shock, which leads to multiple organ failure. In contrast, consumption coagulopathy can lead to people bleeding to death because the so-called bleeding tendency is extremely high.

For the diagnosis of consumption coagulopathy, the specific disease symptoms are decisive. In consumption coagulopathy, these are underpinned by laboratory tests (quantitative determination of platelets, coagulation tests with blood plasma).

Complications

In consumption coagulopathy, those affected usually suffer from a severe bleeding disorder. The blood needs a relatively long period of time to clot, so that bleeding cannot be stopped easily. Even very minor injuries or cuts can lead to profuse bleeding, which in the worst case can lead to bleeding to death and thus to 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 from a significantly reduced self-esteem. Consumption coagulopathy can cause the skin to turn blue as the internal organs are no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen.

Bleeding from the internal organs themselves is also not uncommon and can seriously damage the respective organs. Patients must inform their doctor about consumption coagulopathy in good time, especially during surgical interventions. Consumption coagulopathy usually only needs to be treated when bleeding actually occurs. Those affected are dependent on taking medication. Usually there are no further complications.

When should you go to the doctor?

Since consumption coagulopathy cannot cure independently, the person affected should always consult a doctor with this disease. This is the only way to prevent further complications or complaints, so that a doctor should be contacted at the first symptoms or signs of the disease. An 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 do not go away on their own. The disease also leads to a high fever and liver failure, so that these symptoms can also point to consumption coagulopathy. These symptoms can occur especially after 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

Usually one goes Consumption Coagulopathy always as a consequence of another illness or a surgical procedure as well as an accident with a strong depletion of the blood volume.

For this reason, tangible therapy for consumption coagulopathy is not always easy to implement. In the therapy of consumption coagulopathy, the treatment of the causative disease is the first priority. The treatments of consumption coagulopathy are based in particular on achieving effects which reduce the risks of consumption coagulopathy.

In this regard, it is obvious to first “replenish” the lost coagulation factors, including the platelets. Special platelet concentrates are available for this purpose, which can be administered by infusion. The blood donation facilities and clinics have a so-called fresh-frozen plasma available for these life-threatening emergencies, which can be quickly thawed and infused.

This plasma is not only enriched with platelets, but also contains large concentrations of coagulation factors to counteract consumption coagulopathy. Treatment of consumption coagulopathy requires permanent medical monitoring and is therefore carried out in intensive care units.

If, in the case of consumption coagulopathy, it was found that thrombopenia (number of blood platelets below the normal value) and a disturbance in the function of the platelets were present, treatment with desmopressin was carried out. If consumption coagulopathy occurs as a result of poisoning with coumarin, vitamin K is given.

prevention

A blood clotting disorder, which is a Consumption Coagulopathy can cause is difficult to prevent. People who suffer from the symptoms presented should build 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 the severity of the disease, there is always the risk for those affected that sudden, insatiable bleeding will occur. Internal injuries can seriously impair those affected. Sick people should urgently withdraw from alcohol, otherwise serious complications and a rapid worsening of the disease can occur.

Those affected should always deal with family and friends and inform them sufficiently about the disease. In an emergency, relatives can act immediately. In other situations in which those affected need help, they can then ask relatives about it. Therefore, you should always have ID with you, which lists the medication you are taking. In an emergency, doctors can then act correctly immediately.

The diet should be very balanced and rich in vitamins, enough exercise 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 recommended. There, those affected can exchange ideas with other sick people and find other ways in which they can live with the disease.

You can do that yourself

Everyday adjustments to consumption coagulopathy depend on the extent to which the disease is present. There is always the 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 in which the reduced ability to clot the blood is due to the ingestion of certain drugs or even to alcohol abuse, alternative treatment methods or, if necessary, alcohol withdrawal should be considered. In the case of artificially induced blood thinning due to the intake of so-called coagulation inhibitors, increased attention must be paid to avoid any injuries due to the increased risk of bleeding as far as possible. It is also recommended that those affected have a special ID with them stating that they are taking anti-coagulation medication.

If consumption coagulopathy is the basis of a disease, such as sepsis, the causative pathogens should be treated and eliminated as a matter of urgency. Failure to do this can result in serious complications, especially acute kidney failure.

Those affected can also achieve an improvement in symptoms by incorporating sports activities into their everyday lives. In addition, a healthy diet is important for those affected, because this helps to avoid mineral and vitamin deficiencies.