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Semin Thromb Hemost 2020; 46(01): 096-104
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1696944
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Clot Structure and Implications for Bleeding and Thrombosis

Emily Mihalko
1   Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina
2   Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
,
Ashley C. Brown
1   Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina
2   Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
› Author Affiliations Funding Our work as described in this review was supported by the American Heart Association (16SDG29870005), National Institutes of Health NIAMS (R21AR071017), and the North Carolina State University GAANN Fellowship in Molecular Biotechnology and AHA Pre-doctoral Fellowship (18PRE33990338) to E.M.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 October 2019 (online)

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Abstract

The formation of a fibrin clot matrix plays a critical role in promoting hemostasis and wound healing. Fibrin dynamics can become disadvantageous in the formation of aberrant thrombus development. Structural characteristics of clots, such as fiber diameter, clot density, stiffness, or permeability, can determine overall clot integrity and functional characteristics that have implications on coagulation and fibrinolysis. This review examines known factors that contribute to changes in clot structure and the presence of structural clot changes in various disease states. These insights provide valuable information in forming therapeutic strategies for disease states where alterations in clot structure are observed. Additionally, the implications of structural changes in clot networks on bleeding and thrombus development in terms of disease states and clinical outcomes are also examined in this review.

Keywords

fibrin - clot structure - atomic force microscopy - fibrinolysis - thrombosis
 

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