Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel is injured, the body uses platelets and fibrin to form a blood clot, as the first step in repairing it (hemostasis) to prevent loss of blood. If that mechanism causes too much clotting, and the clot breaks free, a thrombus is formed.
Thromboembolism is a general term describing both thrombosis and its main complication which is embolisation.
When a thrombus occupies more than 75% of surface area of the lumen of an artery, blood flow to the tissue supplied is reduced enough to cause symptoms because of decreased oxygen (hypoxia) and accumulation of metabolic products like lactic acid. More than 90% of obstruction can result in anoxia, the complete deprivation of oxygen, and infarction, a mode of cell death.
In classical terms, thrombosis is caused by abnormalities in one or more of the following (Virchow
The formation of a thrombus is usually caused by Virchow's triad. 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).
There are two distinct forms of thrombosis, each of which can be presented by several subtypes.
Venous thrombosis is the formation of a thrombus (blood clot) within a vein
. There are several diseases which can be classified under this category:
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot within a deep vein
. It most commonly affects leg veins, such as the femoral vein
. Three factors are important in the formation of a blood clot within a deep vein—these are the rate of blood flow, the thickness of the blood and qualities of the vessel wall. Classical signs of DVT include swelling
, pain and redness of the affected area.
Portal vein thrombosis
Portal vein thrombosis is a form of venous thrombosis affecting the hepatic portal vein
, which can lead to portal hypertension
and reduction of the blood supply to the liver. It usually has a pathological cause such as pancreatitis
Renal vein thrombosis
Renal vein thrombosis is the obstruction of the renal vein
by a thrombus. This tends to lead to reduced drainage from the kidney. Anticoagulation
therapy is the treatment of choice.
Jugular Vein Thrombosis
Jugular Vein Thrombosis is a condition that may occur due to infection, intravenous drug use, malignancy, or Jugular Vein Thrombosis can have a varying list of complications, including: systemic sepsis
, pulmonary embolism
, and papilledema
. Characterized by a sharp pain at the site of the vein, it's difficult to diagnose, because it can occur at random.
Budd-Chiari syndrome is the blockage of the hepatic vein
or the inferior vena cava
. This form of thrombosis presents with abdominal pain
. Treatment varies between drug therapy and surgical intervention by the use of shunts
Paget-Schroetter disease is the obstruction of an upper extremity
vein (such as the axillary vein
or subclavian vein
) by a thrombus. The condition usually comes to light after vigorous exercise and usually presents in younger, otherwise healthy people. Men are affected more than women.
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare form of stroke
which results from the blockage of the dural venous sinuses
by a thrombus. Symptoms may include headache
, abnormal vision, any of the symptoms of stroke such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body and seizures
. The diagnosis is usually made with a CT
or MRI scan
. The majority of persons affected make a full recovery. The mortality rate
Arterial thrombosis is the formation of a thrombus within an artery
. In most cases, arterial thrombosis follows rupture of atheroma
, and is therefore referred to as atherothrombosis
. There are two diseases which can be classified under this category:
A stroke is the rapid decline of brain function due to a disturbance in the supply of blood to the brain. This can be due to ischemia
, thrombus, embolus
(a lodged particle) or hemorrhage
(a bleed). In thrombotic stroke, a thrombus (blood clot) usually forms around atherosclerotic
plaques. Since blockage of the artery is gradual, onset of symptomatic thrombotic strokes is slower. Thrombotic stroke can be divided into two categories—large vessel disease and small vessel disease. The former affects vessels such as the internal carotids
and the circle of Willis
. The latter can affect smaller vessels such as the branches of the circle of Willis.
Myocardial infarction (MI) is caused by an infarct
(death of tissue due to ischemia), often due to the obstruction of the coronary artery
by a thrombus. MI can quickly become fatal if emergency medical treatment is not received promptly. If diagnosed within 12 hours of the initial episode (attack) then thrombolytic therapy
If a bacterial infection is present at the site of thrombosis, the thrombus may break down, spreading particles of infected material throughout the circulatory system
, septic embolus
) and setting up metastatic abscesses wherever they come to rest. Without an infection, the thrombus may become detached and enter circulation as an embolus
, finally lodging in and completely obstructing a blood vessel (an infarction
). The effects of an infarction depend on where it occurs.
Most thrombi, however, become organized into fibrous tissue, and the thrombosed vessel is gradually recanalized.
Thrombosis and embolism can be partially prevented with anticoagulants in those deemed at risk. Generally, a risk-benefit analysis is required, as all anticoagulants lead to a small increase in the risk of major bleeding. In atrial fibrillation
, for instance, the risk of stroke
(calculated on the basis of additional risk factors, such as advanced age and high blood pressure
) needs to outweigh the small but known risk of major bleeding associated with the use of warfarin
In people admitted to hospital, thrombosis is a major cause for complications and occasionally death. In the UK, for instance, the Parliamentary Health Select Committee heard in 2005 that the annual rate of death due to hospital-acquired thrombosis was 25,000. Hence thromboprophylaxis (prevention of thrombosis) is increasingly emphasized. In patients admitted for surgery, graded compression stockings are widely used, and in severe illness, prolonged immobility and in all orthopedic surgery, professional guidelines recommend low molecular weight heparin administration, mechanical calf compression or (if all else is contraindicated and the patient has recently suffered deep vein thrombosis) the insertion of a vena cava filter. In patients with medical rather than surgical illness, LMWH too is known to prevent thrombosis, and in the United Kingdom the Chief Medical Officer has issued guidance to the effect that preventative measures should be used in medical patients, in anticipation of formal guidelines.