Drugs Affecting Blood Clotting And Thrombosis

Question 1

Thrombosis

Answer 1

The formation of a thrombus within a vessel

Question 2

Embolus

Answer 2

Fragments of whole thrombus detchached from blood vessel wall
Travels through blood vessel blocking vessels in pulmonary, cardiac, CNS circulation

Question 3

Heparin

Clotting drug

Answer 3

Anticoagulant 
Present in liver, lungs, mast cells
Contained in basophil cells
Activates antithrombin - which binds to thrombin and factors Xa to inactivate them
Side effects: risk of haemorrhage

Question 4

Warfarin

clotting drug

Answer 4

Modifies coagulation and is related in structure to Vitamin K
Prevents factors ll, Vll, lX being activated
Side effects: risk of haemorrhage, problems with antibiotic interactions

Question 5

Aspirin

Affects thrombus formation

Answer 5

Irreversibly blocks platelet COX enzyme reducing thromboxane synthesis to decrease platelet aggregation

Question 6

Dipyridamole

Affect thrombus formation

Answer 6

Inhibits phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzyme to prevent the breakdown of cAMP in platelets 
It decreases platelet aggregation

Question 7

Clopidogrel

Affects thrombus formation

Answer 7

Inhibits glycoprotein llb/llla receptor expression on platelets
Inhibits ADP receptor

Question 8

Streptokinase

Fibrinolytic drug

Answer 8

Used to dissolve pre-existing clots or thrombus

Most effective against recent thrombus

Question 9

Alteplase

Fibrinolytic drug

Answer 9

Binds to fibrin strands bound to plasminogen
Converts inactive plasminogen to active plasmin
The active plasmin digests the fibrin and the thrombus is dissolved

Question 10

Tranexamic acid
(Anti-fibrinolytic and haemostatic agents)

Answer 10

Reduces the activation of plasminogen to plasmin

It’s used in situations where there is a risk of bleeding

Question 11

Haemostasis

Answer 11

A delicate balance between the normal function of blood and preventing blood loss following vessel damage