Hematology

Numerous conditions fall within the scope of hematology and hemostasis. These conditions have various causes (congenital or acquired). A deficient hemostasis is generally the consequence of thrombocytopenia (insufficient platelets), a deficiency in various coagulation factors or an abnormality of the blood vessels.

Hemostasis and hematology: various causes

Many conditions fall within the scope of hematology and hemostasis. These conditions have various causes (congenital or acquired).  Deficient hemostasis is usually the result of thrombocytopenia (insufficient platelets), a deficiency of various coagulation factors or an abnormality of the blood vessels.

The hemostasis process can be dysfunctional in many aspects and therefore lead to the development of many diseases.

Antithombin III and fibrinogen: valuable indicators

Thromboembolic events are largely related to a deficiency in antithrombin III. Antithrombin III (AT III) is a glycoprotein that regulates hemostasis and thrombosis and is also the functional cofactor of heparin required for its anticoagulant action. Its level increases in the presence of an acute inflammatory phase (hepatitis, inflammation, vitamin K deficiency, etc.). Dysfibrinogenemia can be diagnosed by measuring the weight and function of fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is a plasma protein precursor of fibrin, which, when polymerized, becomes the main component of the fibrin clot. Fibrinogen is also a protein of the inflammatory phase and its concentration increases during inflammation, infection, pregnancy and after trauma. High fibrinogen levels are a significant risk factor for the development of coronary and cerebrovascular disease. Low fibrinogen levels are found in congenital afibrinogenemia. This level can also fall significantly in the event of loss into the intravascular space (hemorrhage, shock).

Haptoglobin: a mucoprotein useful in hemolytic anemia

A hemolytic anemia can be detected and differentiated from other causes of anemia by measuring the level of a mucoprotein: haptoglobin, whose role is to bind free hemoglobin in the blood.  In the case of severe hemolysis, haptoglobin stores are depleted, so that low or even zero levels of haptoglobin are found in the case of intravascular hemolysis, but also sometimes in the case of liver failure.

Detecting acute hemorrhage with transferrin

Transferrin is the main iron transport protein in plasma.  A decrease in transferrin levels is observed in acute hemorrhage because its synthesis by the hepatocyte is inversely proportional to the amount of iron in the cell.

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