95 Hemosta

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95 Hemostasis, Thrombosis, Fibrinolysis, and Cardiovascular Disease JEFFREY I. WEITZ HEMOSTATIC SYSTEM, 1766 Vascular Endothelium, 1766 Platelets, 1767 Coagulation, 1769 Fibrinolytic System, 1770 THROMBOSIS, 1771 Arterial Thrombosis, 1772 Venous Thrombosis, 1772 Inherited Hypercoagulable States, 1772 Acquired Hypercoagulable States, 1773 TREATMENT OF THROMBOSIS, 1775 Antiplatelet Drugs, 1775 Anticoagulants, 1779 Fibrinolytic Drugs, 1787 FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, 1789 REFERENCES, 1789 Hemostasis preserves vascular integrity by balancing the physiologic processes that maintain blood fluidity under normal circumstances and prevent excessive bleeding after vascular injury. Preservation of blood fluidity depends on an intact vascular endothelium and a com- plex series of regulatory pathways that maintain platelets in a quies- cent state and keep the coagulation system in check. In contrast, arrest of bleeding requires rapid formation of hemostatic plugs at sites of vas- cular injury to prevent exsanguination. Perturbation of hemostasis can lead to thrombosis, which can occur in arteries or veins and causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Arterial thrombosis is the most common cause of ...