Human plasma coagulation system

The human plasma coagulation system is a complex, highly regulated proteolytic cascade essential for maintaining vascular integrity and preventing hemorrhage (StatPearls, 2023). It involves the sequential activation of various plasma glycoproteins, primarily serine proteases known as clotting factors, which ultimately leads to the conversion of soluble fibrinogen into an insoluble fibrin mesh (NIH, 2022). The system is traditionally divided into the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, which converge on the common pathway to generate thrombin, the central enzyme of coagulation (Wikipedia, 2024). Dysregulation of this system can lead to life-threatening conditions, including pathological thrombosis or hemorrhagic disorders like hemophilia (PubMed, 2021). Consequently, components of this system are major therapeutic targets for anticoagulant and antithrombotic drugs used to treat and prevent cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and venous thromboembolism (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Coagulation cascadeBlood clotting systemHemostatic systemClotting cascade

Drugs targeting this system primarily act by inhibiting specific serine proteases such as Factor Xa or Thrombin, antagonizing the recycling of Vitamin K required for the synthesis of factors II, VII, IX, and X, or accelerating the natural inhibitory activity of antithrombin III (StatPearls, 2023; PubMed, 2022).