Question

a.After surgery an elderly woman was diagnosed of thrombosis in the left deep vein. Imaging technique (x – ray) and other investigations ruled out hypercoagulability and abnormal blood flow as possible cause of thrombosis. Identify the cause of thrombosis and explain the mechanism.

Answer 1

Thrombosis - is defined as the process of formation of solid mass in the circulating blood from constituents of flowing blood.

The solid mass formed is called Thrombus. It consists of coagulated blood. The primary abnormalities leads to formation of thrombi are -

1. Injury to endothelium.

Mechanism - physical loss of endothelium exposes sub-endothelial thrombogenic ECM .

b. Platelets adhere to blood vessels leads to coagulation.

2. Hypercoagubility - This is also called Thrombophilia. It has increased tendency to develop thrombo-embolism.

3. Stasis or turbulent blood flow - it is a major cause for venous thrombosis.

Mechanism - normal blood flow is laminar in which platelets flow centrally.

In turbulent blood flow , the platelets move peripherally .

This brings platelets in contact with endothelium and leads to formation of Thrombosis.