Covers the abnormal tendency to bleed that arises from disorders of platelets, clotting pathways or vessel integrity, framing it as a clinical manifestation rather than one disease. It sets out acquired causes such as liver disease, vitamin K deficiency, ITP and antiphospholipid syndrome alongside inherited haemophilias and von Willebrand disease. The note also describes bleeding patterns from skin to internal sites, two laboratory test tables comparing CBC, PT, aPTT, fibrinogen and D-dimer, and treatment by cause plus supportive care.
Topic 49 of 88 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Internal Diseases (Dental Medicine, Year 4). The free AceMed note covers it in 6 sections, about 299 words (3 min of reading), with 14 flashcards.
In this note
Hemorrhagic Diathesis
Definition:
Etiology:
Symptoms / Clinical Features:
Diagnosis:
Treatment:
Definition:
Hemorrhagic diathesis refers to an abnormal tendency to bleed, due to disorders affecting hemostasis (blood clotting), including platelet function, coagulation pathways, or vascular integrity.
It is a clinical manifestation rather than a single disease, and reflects hypocoagulability, resulting from acquired or inherited causes.
Etiology:
A. Acquired Causes:
Liver disease (most common):
↓ Synthesis of coagulation factors
↓ Vitamin K-dependent factors (II, VII, IX, X)
Thrombocytopenia (due to hypersplenism from portal hypertension)
Abnormal fibrinogen or platelet function
May result in DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
Vitamin K deficiency:
Malabsorption, prolonged antibiotic use, or warfarin therapy
