What is the clinical significance of measuring bleeding time

The measurement of bleeding time is mainly used to evaluate platelet function and capillary hemostatic ability. Its clinical significance is reflected in five aspects: screening for hemostatic abnormalities, preoperative risk assessment, monitoring drug effects, assisting in the diagnosis of genetic diseases, and guiding blood transfusion treatment.

1. Screening for hemostatic abnormalities:

Prolonged bleeding time may indicate decreased platelet count or functional defects, such as abnormal test values in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. This examination can detect mild hemostatic dysfunction early and avoid the risk of spontaneous bleeding, especially for patients with mild symptoms such as gum bleeding and subcutaneous bruising. It has screening value.

2. Preoperative risk assessment:

Routine preoperative testing can predict intraoperative bleeding tendency. Cirrhotic patients often experience bleeding for more than 9 minutes due to thrombocytopenia and coagulation factor deficiency. In such cases, blood preparation or surgical adjustments should be made in advance. This assessment must be completed before invasive procedures such as cardiac stent implantation.

3. Monitoring drug effects:

Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel can significantly prolong the detection value. Monitoring data can guide the adjustment of medication plans, such as maintaining bleeding time in the 6-8 minute range for patients with coronary artery disease, which can prevent thrombosis without excessively increasing the risk of bleeding.

4. Diagnosis of genetic diseases:

Patients with hemophilia can bleed for more than 15 minutes due to a deficiency of hemophilia factor. Combined with coagulation factor testing, it can clearly diagnose hereditary hemorrhagic diseases and has important reference value for screening suspected hemophilia carriers.

5. Guidance on transfusion therapy:

Patients with severe trauma or blood diseases need to evaluate their hemostatic function before transfusion. When the bleeding time is greater than 15 minutes and the platelet count is less than 50 × 10 ⁹/L, platelet transfusion can effectively improve hemostasis. This indicator provides objective basis for component transfusion.

Medications that affect platelet function should be discontinued for 3-7 days before testing, and testing should be done immediately after intense exercise. When using standardized IVY method for measurement, the disinfection intensity should be moderate to avoid artificially prolonging the results. Abnormal individuals need to undergo further tests such as platelet aggregation and coagulation. Moderate supplementation of vitamin K can enhance coagulation function in daily life, but patients with genetic diseases need to develop long-term management plans under the guidance of hematology. Regular follow-up is of great value in monitoring disease progression and evaluating therapeutic efficacy.