Coagulation Cascade
Blood is a vital body fluid as it performs a number of key functions. When a blood vessel is damaged or broken the loss of blood needs to be minimised - the clotting cascade begins and a blood clot is formed.
The Clotting Cascade is the series of reactions that occur in the blood system which result in a clot. The enzymes that are necessary for the reactions are all found as inactive forms in the blood, with the exception of Tissue Factor (Factor III) which is found outside of the blood vessels. When a blood vessel is damaged a change occurs which activates the Intrinsic (Contact) Pathway. The Extrinsic (Tissue Factor) Pathway is started when Tissue Factor is introduced into the blood vessel by the walls being broken open.
The Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pathways finish with the activation of Stuart Prower Factor (Factor X) and is the start of the Common Pathway which forms a Fibrin Clot. The Cascade has several feedback loops, some propagate the reaction whilst others inhibit it and this balance shifts as required to either assist clot formation or to cease the cascade and break the clots down.
Blood clotting is a crucial bodily function and a Prothrombin Time test is used to check how fast the blood clots by examining the Extrinsic Pathway. Anti-coagulant drugs which delay clot formation are administered for a number of conditions and so the blood clotting time needs to be monitored regularly so the dosage can be varied to ensure safe parameters in the blood are achieved.
What's next?
Contact us for more information on 0845 956 9900 or why not make an enquiry and we'll be in touch shortly.
