HOW BLEEDING DISORDER CAN BE TREATED, THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
I appreciate you for having time to visit my blog.
I find it a great privilege to share this health related stuff to you.
There are some diseases that needed attention and one of them is what I want to share here, which is Bleeding Disorder
I Surf through web and I contacted some books while adding my own experience before I could come up with this.
Firstly, let’s consider what Bleeding Disorder is all about?
Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that result when the blood cannot clot properly. In normal clotting,platelets,a type of blood cell,stick together and form a plug at the site of an injured blood vessel. Proteins in the blood called clotting factors then interact to form a fibrin clot, essentially a gel plug, which holds the platelets in place and allows healing to occur at the site of the injury while preventing blood from escaping the blood vessel.
What are the causes of Bleeding Disorder?
Normal blood clotting involves as many as 20 different plasma proteins, which are known as blood clotting or coagulation factors. These factors act together with other chemicals to form a substance called fibrin that stops bleeding. Problems can occur when certain coagulation factors are low or missing. Bleeding problems can range from mild to severe.
Some bleeding disorders are present at birth and are passed through families (inherited).
Others develop from Illnesses such as:
• Vitamin K deficiency or severe liver disease.
• Thrombocytopenia, which is an unusually low level of platelets.
• Anemia, which is an unusually low level of red blood cells
• Long-term use of powerful antibiotics or anticoagulants. Anticoagulants are medications that thin the blood.
• Bleeding disorders can also result from having poorly working or too few of the blood cells that promote blood clotting (platelets).
• These disorders can also be either inherited or picked up (acquired).
• The side effects of certain drugs often lead to the acquired forms. This list of drugs that can cause bleeding does not include drugs that have to be given as injections or intravenous infusions.
Herbal drugs (phytomedicines) that can cause bleeding includes:
Ginkgo bilobaGarlic in large amountsGinger (not dried ginger) Ginseng (Asian) Fever few Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Willow bark
Symptoms of Bleeding Disorders may Include:
• Easy bruising.
• Bleeding gums
• Heavy bleeding from small cuts or dental work.
• Unexplained nose bleeds.
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding into joints, muscles and soft tissues
• Bleeding internally, in abdomen kidneys, and intestines
• Excessive bleeding following surgery
• Blood in vomit. It often resembles coffee grounds.
• Black or bloody bowel movements
• Small purple of red spots under the skin. These are called petechiae.
• Red or pink urine
• Dizziness, headaches, or changes in vision
• Joint pain
Complications associated with Bleeding Disorder
• Joint Damage: This occurs when there is repeated bleeding into the joints. Joint bleeds cause pain and discomfort that can lead to chronic swelling and deformity.
• Inhibitors: Inhibitors are antibodies that the body develops because it sees the infused factor as a foreign substance that needs to be destroyed. Antibodies are proteins that eat up the activated factor before it has time to stop the bleeding.
• Viral Infection: there is always a remote risk of a new virus being introduced into the blood supply and therefore, into the plasma derived factor concentrates.
• Emotional and Psychological: Feelings are normal and everyone experiences positive and negative feelings at different times in their lives. Being diagnosed with a chronic condition or learning that your child has a chronic condition may make a person feel stressed, sad, and sometimes depressed.
How to treat Bleeding Disorder
Treatment of Bleeding Disorder depends on the type of disorder.
It may include:
Clotting factor replacement
Bleeding disorder can be treated by replacing missing blood clotting factors. This is called clotting factor replacement therapy. Clotting factors are replaced by injecting (infusing) a clotting factor concentrate into a vein. Infusions of clotting factors help blood to clot normally. Clotting factor replacement therapy can treat bleeding episodes or prevent bleeding. It can prevent severe blood loss and complications from bleeding such as damage to muscle, joints, and organs.
Fresh frozen plasma transfusion
One unit of FFP or thawed plasma is the plasma taken from a unit of whole blood. FFP is frozen within eight hours of collection. FFP contains all coagulation factors in normal concentrations. Thawed plasma may be transfused up to 5 days after thawing and contains slightly decreased levels of Factor V (66+/-9%) and decreased Factor VIII levels (41+/-8%).Plasma is free of red blood cells, leukocytes and platelets. One unit is approximately 250mL and must be ABO compatible. Rh factor need not be considered. Since there are no viable leukocytes, plasma does not carry a risk of CMV transmission or Graft Vs. Host Disease (GVHD).
Platelet transfusion.
Platelets are tiny cells in your blood which form clots to help stop bleeding. If the number of platelets (your platelet count) is too low, doctors may recommend a platelet transfusion. If you consent, you will be given platelets collected from donors.The platelets are run through a drip and into your bloodstream. The transfusion usually takes 15-30 minutes and can usually be done at an outpatient clinic. Severe side effects are rare, and all donated platelets are tested for infections or viruses.
There are some certain Medications that can be taken
Oprelvekin
Oprelvekin is an interleukin, prescribed for severe thrombocytopenia caused by certain chemotherapy treatments.
Phylloquinone
Phylloquinone is often known as vitamin K1, prescribed for coagulation disorders (bleeding problems) in patients with vitamin K deficiency (e.g. Anticoagulant-induced prothrombin deficiency, hypoprothrombinemia). It helps the liver to produce blood-clotting factors.
Thrombin Topical Bovine Origin
Thrombin Topical Bovine Origin is hematologic agent, prescribed for hemostasis and for temporary control of moderately to severely bleeding wounds.
Tranexamic Acid
Tranexamic Acid is an antifibrinolytic agent, used for reduction or prevention of excessive menstrual bleeding. It is also used for prevention of bleeding due to other causes such as peptic ulcer, bypass surgery, prostatic surgery, and overdose of fibrinolytics.
Factor IX
Factor IX is a synthetic protein, clotting factor IX, prescribed for control and prevention of hemorrhagic episodes in patients with hemophilia B.
Fibrinogen Concentrate
Fibrinogen Concentrate is a hematological agent, prescribed for acute bleeding episodes in patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency.
Goserelin
Goserelin is a synthetic analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, used to suppress production of the sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), and prescribed for the treatment of endometriosis, breast and prostate cancer.
Aprotinin
This product is derived from bovine lung tissue, which inhibits certain enzymes that increase the risk for bleeding.
Carbazochrome
Carbazochrome is an antihemorrhagic agent, prescribed for bleeding disorders.
Antihemophiliac factor
Antihemophiliac factor is an essential blood-clotting factor, prescribed for controlling and preventing bleeding episodes in people with low levels of factor VIII (hemophilia A) and AHG deficiency. This product contains a man-made form of factor VIII, also called antihemophilic factor.
There are ways through which Bleeding Disorder can be Prevent and control
This list tells you the minimum things to do. You may want to do them more often or as your doctor suggests. Your hemophilia treatment center can help with these:
• A check-up (physical exam) every year. A check-up of your joints, bones, and muscles every year.
• Physical therapy (PT) check-up every year.
• Dentist visit every six months to a year.
• Blood tests as often as your doctor suggests:Factor level check as needed.Check for inhibitors (at least every year).
• Liver tests
• Complete blood count.
• Immune system check.
• Hepatitis A check (if negative, get the shot).Hepatitis B check (if negative, get the shot).Hepatitis C check.
• X-rays of your joints as needed.
• Meet with social worker to talk about financial and emotional needs every year.
• Talk to genetic counselor about the chances of your children and grandchildren having a bleeding disorder or being carriers (do this at least once and then as needed).
Apart From the ones listed above, These are things you can do on your own.
• Always treat your bleeding quickly.
• People with hemophilia should take factor right away.
• People with hemophilia should take factor before doing an activity likely to cause a bleed.
• Exercise at least three times a week.
• Follow the advice of your joint doctor (orthopedist) and physical therapist (PT).
• Brush and floss your teeth at least once a day.
• Eat regular, healthy meals
• Try to stay near your ideal body weight
• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Always wear your seat belt
• Take all the shots (vaccines) that you need and keep them up-to-date.