Hemostasis is a very complex biological process in the body that ensures its viability. It is thanks to him that blood circulates through the circulatory system without leaving it. In addition, hemostasis is responsible for maintaining a certain amount of blood necessary for normal human life. Simply put, this biological process ensures the normal functioning of the circulatory system and is responsible for the saturation of all organs with oxygen and macronutrients.
Doctors prescribed a blood test for hemostasis to many people, but not everyone knows why it is needed and what information the doctors provide. Let's try to figure this out and find out about all the features of this type of laboratory blood tests.
general information
It is important to understand that hemostasis is a complex of various processes and functional morphological mechanisms that ensure blood flow and prevent its coagulation. If a crack forms on the walls of blood vessels, it is thanks to hemostasis that it is closed by the formation of a thrombus, which is removed after the restoration of soft tissues.
What are the functions of hemostasis in the human body?
Before we talk about what a blood test for hemostasis gives, let's figure out what functions this system performs.
She is responsible for:
- ensuring blood flow;
- localization of places of damage to blood vessels;
- dissolution of blood clots.
To understand how complex the hemostasis system is, let's give one small example. If the walls of the vessels were damaged and cracks formed on them, then their localization is carried out in several stages with the participation of 13 enzymes.
Hemostatic mechanisms
As mentioned earlier, hemostasis is one of the most complex processes in our body. There are two of its mechanisms - primary and secondary. To understand the basic principles of the functioning of the entire system (how to properly take a blood test for hemostasis, will be discussed later), let's take a closer look at each of them.
Primary, or vascular-platelet, involves blood cells, soft tissues of blood vessels, bioactive substances and extravascular tissues. This mechanism is responsible for localizing the site of damage to the vessel wall with a platelet plug.
Secondary, or coagulation, - this mechanism involves plasma coagulation factors. This process is responsible for the conversion of platelet plugs into insoluble fibrin, which can withstand the large blood pressure exerted on the walls of blood vessels during blood circulation, thereby maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system.
This mechanism is realized thanks to blood cells, blood vessel walls and special enzymes that are responsible for preventing blood clotting and blood clots. It is important to understand here that if the hemostasis system does not function correctly and does not cope with its tasks, then various pathologies of the circulatory system may appear in a person. In this case, doctors prescribe a blood test for hemostasis mutations, which allows you to detect the cause of the failure.
Analysis for hemostasis: why is it needed?
One of the most informative types of laboratory tests is a blood test for hemostasis, the purpose of which is to identify violations in the operation of this system. The study is very complex and time-consuming, but it allows medical specialists to get a detailed picture of blood coagulation, as well as the functioning of both systems involved in this and their interaction with each other. It is worth noting that a violation of the normal functioning of hemostasis can be caused by a malfunction of both systems. In the first case, violations lead to the formation of thrombosis, and in the second, to internal bleeding.
What are the consequences of improper functioning of the hemostatic system?
Deviations in normal blood coagulation are fraught with various negative consequences, which can not only pose a great threat to human health, but also lead to irreversible consequences. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of such problems, it is recommended to take a blood test for hemostasis. What this type of research shows has already been considered previously.
If a person has a blood coagulation index significantly higher than normal, then this is called thrombophilia. It is dangerous because it significantly increases the likelihood of a heart attack, stroke and blood clots in the blood vessels, and can also lead to infertility and miscarriage.
If coagulation is below normal, then internal bleeding may occur. As a result, wounds and cuts heal much longer. Various complications may also develop after surgery.
When is a hemostasis test prescribed?
The main reasons for which a blood test for hemostasis may be required are:
- the need to establish the causes of increased blood loss, internal bleeding, or the manifestation of autoimmune diseases;
- diagnosis, prevention or treatment of thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes;
- regular measures to prevent internal bleeding in patients undergoing surgery;
- pregnancy planning stage;
- treatment of gynecological diseases in pregnant women.
These are the most common reasons why doctors send their patients for blood donation to check the function of the hemostasis system. But here it is important to understand that each specific case is individual, therefore this type of laboratory research can be prescribed in other situations.
How is
If you need to donate blood for hemostasis, then you need to have an idea of how it is carried out and how long it takes. As mentioned earlier, this
type of blood test is complex and painstaking.
It includes the following tests:
- Prothrombin time with INR - for what period of time the blood coagulates.
- APTT - during what period does the formation of a blood clot occur after the reagents are attached to the plasma.
- Thrombin time is the time interval required for the conversion of fibronogen to fibrin.
- Fibrinogen.
When the test results are ready, they need to be decrypted. Doctors pay special attention to the first and second test. They give a detailed picture of how blood coagulation occurs along the internal and external paths. If everything is in order with their results, then the hemostatic system is functioning normally.
Indications
An analysis of the hemostasis system is prescribed in cases where blood loss is expected, or when patients diagnose certain diseases of the circulatory system.
A hemostasiogram is mandatory in the following cases:
- before and after surgery;
- with varicose veins and thrombosis;
- in diagnosing autoimmune diseases;
- with liver diseases;
- in the prevention and treatment of strokes and heart attacks;
- with various complex pathologies of the circulatory system;
- in order to monitor the patient's condition when taking antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants.
In each of the above cases, a laboratory study of hemostasis is mandatory. A blood test for hemostasis during pregnancy and at the stage of planning the conception of a child is also necessary.
Analysis for hemostatic mutations
The study of the hemostatic system is highly informative, however, it does not always allow medical specialists to predict the likelihood of developing pathologies that affect blood coagulation. Therefore, doctors prescribe a blood test for hemostasis mutations in patients, during which the response from this system is taken into account.
This type of research is assigned to the following categories of individuals:
- women taking birth control pills;
- suffering from infertility or having problems with miscarriage;
- women who are prescribed hormone therapy;
- smokers over the age of 50;
- patients who have undergone thrombosis, whose age is less than 50 years;
- before and after surgery;
- young people who have been diagnosed with hearing loss for unknown reasons;
- chemotherapy patients.
It is worth noting that this blood test (hemostasis system and deciphering the results give doctors a detailed picture of the patient’s health status) can also be prescribed to people whose relatives under the age of 50 have problems with the cardiovascular system, and in addition, suffered a heart attack or stroke . This is necessary in order to determine the presence of a genetic predisposition.
Impaired hemostasis
Violations in the biological processes of hemostasis include the following concepts:
- Cohulopathy - disturbances in the functioning of the coagulation and anticoagulation system.
- Hypocoagulation - deterioration in the formation of blood clots due to poor adhesion of blood cells to each other. It manifests itself as internal bleeding and slow healing of wounds.
- A hypercoagulable thrombotic condition is an increased adhesion of blood cells, as a result of which blood clots can form in the circulatory system.
- Thrombohemorrhagic syndrome is a simultaneous disturbance in the functioning of the coagulation and anticoagulation systems, which leads to the formation of numerous blood clots in the vessels, as a result of which the normal blood circulation of the internal organs is disturbed, leading to dystrophic changes.
Each of the pathologies manifests itself in different ways and leads to various negative consequences. A timely blood test for hemostasis (the norm should not be exceeded) allows doctors to prescribe treatment and prevent the occurrence of dangerous complications.
Preparing for the test
So, you are going to go to the doctor. How to take a blood test for hemostasis so that the results are reliable? It is important to understand that your body must first be prepared. Go to the hospital on an empty stomach. Doctors recommend giving up eating about 10 hours before going to a medical facility. Only non-carbonated purified water is allowed. In addition, the day before the test, it is recommended to minimize any physical exertion, avoid stressful situations, and also how to sleep.
The use of any alcoholic beverages and medications should be discarded, since they will negatively affect the composition of the blood, which will complicate the blood test for hemostasis. The decryption in this case will be incorrect, as a result of which it will be difficult for the doctor to assess the real condition of the patient and prescribe appropriate therapy.
Studies of the hemostatic system during pregnancy
During the gestation, a lot of changes occur in a woman’s body, one of which is an increase in the number of platelets in the blood. But if their level deviates too much from the norm, then blood clots will begin to form in the blood vessels and a disease such as thrombophilia will appear, which very often leads to premature termination of pregnancy.
Therefore, monitoring the condition of the hemostatic system in expectant mothers is critically important. At the same time, they are assigned advanced laboratory tests, consisting of 14 points, which allows you to get the most complete clinical picture.
Conclusion
The hemostatic system is one of the most important in our body. It performs complex functions and is responsible for the normal functioning of the circulatory system. Violation of her work can lead to complex pathologies. This is especially true for women bearing a fetus. Therefore, monitoring their health is important.
In modern society, few pay proper attention to their own health. Someone does not have time for this, but someone is simply afraid to take tests. But this is completely wrong, since if you start any disease, the consequences can be dire.