Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), whose consequence may be a pulmonary embolism (PE). Thrombosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is the third most common cardiovascular disease after myocardial infarction and stroke. DVT is associated with the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein in the body. Thrombosis promotes slowed blood flow, hypoxia, cell activation, and the associated release of many active substances involved in blood clot formation. All thrombi which adhere to endothelium consist of fibrin, platelets, and trapped red and white blood cells. In this review, we summarise the impact of various factors affecting haemostatic disorders leading to blood clot formation. The paper discusses the causes of thrombosis, the mechanism of blood clot formation, and factors such as hypoxia, the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs), and the activation of platelets and neutrophils along with the effects of bacteria and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanisms related to the action of anticoagulants affecting coagulation factors including antiplatelet drugs have also been discussed. However, many aspects related to the pathogenesis of thrombosis still need to be clarified. A review of the drugs used to treat and prevent thrombosis and natural anticoagulants that occur in the plant world and are traditionally used in Far Eastern medicine has also been carried out.
Highlights
Thrombosis can occur in either veins or arteries
The first stage of clot formation is the activation of endothelial cells (ECs), platelets, and leukocytes associated with the induction of inflammation and the release of microparticles that trigger the coagulation system by induction of the tissue factor (TF) [17,18]
In the formation of thrombosis, an important role is held by shear forces induced by blood flow, because they contribute to the excessive activation of platelets, their aggregation leading to the formation of a clot
Summary
Thrombosis can occur in either veins or arteries. In the veins, it leads to DVT and a pulmonary embolism, referred to as VTE. The term DVT usually refers to a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, most often in the large veins that run through the calf muscles and eventually leads to pain and swelling in the leg. Other factors conducive to the development of thrombosis can include surgery, immobilization as a consequence of a procedure or caused by a long-term treatment, delivery, infectious diseases, pre-existing vein diseases, excessive coagulation, high haematocrit (increase blood viscosity), the use of drugs that irritate the endothelium, and varicose veins [3]. DVT is associated with the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein in the body. We present natural anticoagulants from the plant world and traditionally used in Far Eastern medicine
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