Drugs Affecting Blood Coagulation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions related to blood coagulation and the pharmacological agents that influence this process.

Coagulation

The process of blood clotting to prevent excessive bleeding.

Hemostasis

The process that prevents and stops bleeding, or hemorrhage.

Vascular constriction

The narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow and prevent blood loss.

Platelet plug

A temporary aggregate of platelets that forms at sites of vascular injury.

Coagulation cascade

A series of enzymatic reactions that lead to the formation of a blood clot.

Fibrinogen

A plasma protein that is converted into fibrin during the clotting process.

Thrombin

An enzyme that converts fibrinogen to fibrin, facilitating blood clot formation.

Intrinsic pathway

A coagulation pathway that is activated by damage to blood vessels, leading to clot formation.

Extrinsic pathway

A coagulation pathway activated by external trauma or injury to blood vessels.

Antiplatelet agents

Medications that prevent platelet aggregation and reduce the risk of clot formation.

Anticoagulants

Drugs that interfere with the normal coagulation process to prevent clot formation.

Thrombolytic agents

Medications that dissolve blood clots that have already formed.

Vitamin K

A vitamin necessary for synthesizing certain clotting factors in the liver.

Calcium

A mineral essential for activating many clotting factors in the coagulation cascade.

Thrombosis

Inappropriate clotting that reduces or obstructs blood flow.

Bleeding disorders

Conditions characterized by an inability to clot properly, leading to excessive bleeding.

Aspirin

An antiplatelet medication used to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Clopidogrel

An antiplatelet medication that helps prevent blood clots.

Heparin

An anticoagulant that prevents clotting and is often used in hospital settings.

Warfarin

An anticoagulant that inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis, a condition where blood clots form in deep veins.

PE

Pulmonary embolism, a blockage in the pulmonary arteries usually caused by blood clots.

Protoype

The typical example of a class of drugs, such as warfarin for anticoagulants.

Thrombolytic therapy

Treatment that uses drugs to dissolve dangerous clots in blood vessels.

Antidote

A substance that counteracts the effects of a drug or poison.

Hemophilia

A hereditary bleeding disorder that affects the blood's ability to clot.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition characterized by abnormally low levels of platelets.

INR

International normalized ratio, a standardized measure of blood coagulation.

aPTT

Activated partial thromboplastin time, a test that measures the intrinsic coagulation pathway.

PT

Prothrombin time, a test that measures how long it takes blood to clot.

Fibrinolysis

The process of breaking down a blood clot after it has formed.

Plasmin

An enzyme that dissolves fibrin clots in the fibrinolysis process.

Factor VIII

A clotting factor that is deficient in hemophilia A.

Factor IX

A clotting factor that is deficient in hemophilia B.

Argatroban

A direct thrombin inhibitor used as an anticoagulant.

Enoxaparin

A low molecular weight heparin used to prevent and treat blood clots.

Rivaroxaban

An oral anticoagulant that inhibits factor Xa in the coagulation pathway.

Apixaban

An oral anticoagulant that also inhibits factor Xa.

Antiplatelet mechanism

Involves blocking platelet activation and aggregation.

Calcium's role in coagulation

Calcium ions are essential for various steps in the coagulation cascade.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that enters circulation when introduced into the body.

Side effects of anticoagulants

Commonly bleeding, bruising, and gastrointestinal disturbances.

Collaborative care for clots

Involves using medications, monitoring, and patient education to manage clot risk.

Collaborative care for bleeding

Includes administration of clotting factor concentrates and replacement therapies.

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors

A class of antiplatelet drugs that block platelet aggregation.

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke.

Stent placement

A procedure to keep a blocked artery open using a mesh tube.

Active bleeding

A condition where a patient is currently experiencing significant blood loss.

Subendothelial exposure

When collagen and tissue beneath the endothelium are exposed due to vessel injury.

Clot resolution

The process of resolving or breaking down a blood clot.

Organ biopsy potential complication

Risk of bleeding or hematoma formation after a biopsy due to anticoagulation.