Summary
Currently, there are three schemes to explain the coagulation of blood, each representing
an attempt to unravel the complex process. The lack of agreement can be attributed,
first, to the experimental approaches and, secondly, to the objective. To evaluate
accurately the reliability of the various methods employed in isolating clotting factors
and in studying their properties would require the wisdom of Solomon. While both the
cascade sequence theory and Seegers’ approach have as their main aim to study the
chemistry of blood coagulation, the primary objective of the expanded classical theory
is to serve diagnostically. The final goal - the correlation of blood coagulation
and hemostasis - can only come clinically. The more clearly the chemistry of the coagulation
mechanism is understood and the more accurate the diagnosis, the better will be the
prospect of approaching successfully the problem of hemostasis.
