Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders: pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics

Platelets: thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Abnormalities of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) have been recognized to be associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) for over 20 years. Patients with chronic, relapsing TTP have VWF multimers that are larger than normal, similar in size to those secreted by cultured endothelial cells. Recent observations have documented that a deficiency of a VWF-cleaving protease (termed AD...

Abnormal calcium handling by platelets in thrombotic disorders.

This study presents a quantitative comparison of the free cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) and the free concentration in the lumen of the dense tubules of the human platelet. The former was measured by the fluorescence of the high affinity indicator quin2 and latter by the fluorescence of chlorotetracycline (CTC). The CTC technique monitors calcium-CTC complex accumulation in the l...

Thrombotic risk factors: basic pathophysiology.

Although venous thrombosis has been traditionally associated with stasis and hypercoagulability, arterial thrombosis is mainly associated with heightened platelet reactivity and damage to the vessel wall. Accordingly, classic risk factors for venous and arterial thrombosis are usually considered distinct. Those for the former include cancer, surgery, pregnancy, and estrogens use, whereas risk f...

Thrombotic disorders: diagnosis and treatment.

Hematologists are increasingly involved in the diagnosis and management of patients with venous and arterial thromboembolic disorders. There have been major advances in recent years in our understanding of the central role of hypercoagulability in the pathogenesis of thrombosis. This has led to new approaches to the diagnosis of patients at risk for thrombosis and the development of more ration...

Genetics and Molecular Pathophysiology of Thrombotic States