clot

Examples of clot in the following topics:

• Clot Retraction and Repair

  • Clot retraction is the shrinking of a blood clot facilitated by thrombolytic agents.
  • As the healing process occurs following blood clot formation, the clot must be destroyed in order to prevent thromboembolic events, in which clots break off from the endothelium and cause ischemic damage elsewhere in the body.
  • Clot retraction refers to a regression in size of the blood clot over a number of days.
  • Clot retraction generally occurs within 24 hours of initial clot formation and decreases the size of the clot by 90%.
  • While the clot retracts, the wound begins to heal.

• Fibrinolysis

  • Fibrinolysis is a process of breaking down clots in order to prevent them from growing and becoming problematic.
  • Fibrinolysis is a process that removes clots following hemostasis and clot retraction, preventing uncontrolled thrombosis and embolism.
  • Primary fibrinolysis normally occurs following clot retraction, in which the clot has already condensed considerably in size.
  • Instead, it is incorporated into the clot when it is formed and then activated into plasmin later.
  • Clots may also be prevented or kept from worsening through the use of blood thinners (anticoagulants).

• Blood Plasma

  • It contains proteins and clotting factors, transports nutrients, and removes waste.
  • Clotting proteins are mainly produced in the liver.
  • Twelve proteins known as "clotting factors" participate in the cascade clotting process during endothelial injury.
  • One important clotting factor is fibrinogen.
  • Serum is a term used to describe plasma that has been removed of its clotting factors.

• Platelets and Coagulation Factors

  • Blood must form clots to heal wounds and prevent excess blood loss.
  • Many of the clotting factors require vitamin K to function.
  • Vitamin K deficiency can lead to problems with blood clotting.
  • The plug or clot lasts for a number of days, stopping the loss of blood.
  • (b) Platelets are required for clotting of the blood.

• Overview of Hemostasis

  • Intact blood vessels are central to moderating blood's clotting tendency.
  • Each of the clotting factors has a very specific function.
  • This temporary fibrin clot can form in less than a minute and slows blood flow before platelets attach.
  • Next, platelets in the clot begin to shrink, tightening the clot and drawing together the vessel walls to initiate the process of wound healing.
  • Usually, the whole process of clot formation and tightening takes less than a half hour.

• Hemostasis Disorders

  • The level of factor VIII, another protein involved in clotting, may also be lower than normal.
  • These involve medicine to increase the level of von Willebrand factor in the blood, medicine to prevent the breakdown of clots, medicine to control heavy menstrual bleeding in women, or injection of clotting factor concentrates.
  • Hemophilia is a disease where there is a low levels of, or none, of a blood protein important for clotting, causing an inability to produce blood clots.
  • The opposite of hemophilia, is Factor V Leiden thrombophilia, a disorder of human factor V blood protein that causes a hypercoagulability disorder, or, overactive clotting, resulting in dangerous blood clots.
  • Those that have it are at a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots than those without.

• Mammalian Proteins and Products

  • These include, in particular, an assortment of hormones and proteins for blood clotting and other blood processes.
  • TPA is primarily used in heart patients or others suffering from poor circulation to prevent the development of clots that can be life-threatening.
  • In contrast to TPA, the blood clotting factors VII, VIII, and IX are critically important for the formation of blood clots.
  • Hemophiliacs suffer from a deficiency of one or more clotting factors and can therefore be treated with microbially produced clotting factors.
  • Recombinant clotting factors have eliminated this problem.

• Platelets

  • Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are membrane-bound cell fragments that are essential for clot formation during wound healing.
  • Platelets are important for the blood clotting process, making them essential for wound healing.
  • The adhesive surface proteins of platelets allow them to accumulate on the fibrin mesh at an injury site to form a platelet plug that clots the blood.
  • The complex process of wound repair can only begin once the clot has stopped bleeding.
  • Thrombosis also occurs when blood is allowed to pool, which causes clotting factors and platelets to form a blood clot even in the absence of an injury.

• Anticoagulants

  • However, they are also the main dietary source of vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting to occur.
  • An anticoagulant is a substance that prevents coagulation (clotting) of blood.
  • It works by activating antithrombin III, which blocks thrombin from clotting blood.
  • Heparin can be used in vivo (by injection), and also in vitro to prevent blood or plasma clotting in or on medical devices.
  • Batroxobin is a toxin from snake venom that clots platelet-rich plasma without affecting platelets functions (lyses fibrinogen).

• Fusobacteria

  • Thrombophlebitis is inflammation caused by a blood clot.
  • At this point, the bacteria are able to pass into the neighboring jugular vein and cause an infected clot to form.
  • The bacteria are then able to circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream and pieces of the blood clot will dissociate from the original site and travel to the lungs.
  • The pieces of the clot will settle in the lungs and block branches of the pulmonary artery, resulting in shortness of breath, chest pain and pneumonia.