Thromboembolism pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Pathophysiology

The formation of a thrombus is usually caused by the top three causes, known as (Virchow's triad): (Classically, thrombosis is caused by abnormalities in one or more of the following)

• The composition of the blood (hypercoagulability)
• Quality of the vessel wall (endothelial cell injury)
• Nature of the blood flow (hemostasis)

To elaborate, the pathogenesis includes:

• an injury to the vessel's wall (such as by trauma, infection, or turbulent flow at bifurcations);
• by the slowing or stagnation of blood flow past the point of injury (which may occur after long periods of sedentary behavior (for example, sitting on a long airplane flight);
• by a blood state of hypercoagulability (caused for example, by genetic deficiencies or autoimmune disorders).

High altitude has also been known to induce thrombosis . Occasionally, abnormalities in coagulation are to blame. Intravascular coagulation follows, forming a structureless mass of red blood cells, leukocytes, and fibrin.