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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
06:28
Leveraging Turbidity and Thromboelastography for Complementary Clot Characterization
Published on: June 4, 2020
Heritability of clot formation
Kristina F Standeven1, Shirley Uitte de Willige, Angela M Carter
1Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Leeds, Leeds LS29JT, United Kingdom.
Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis
|September 10, 2009
Summary
Fibrin clot structure, influenced by genetics and environment, impacts cardiovascular risk. Understanding these factors is key to unraveling thrombotic disease mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Occlusive arterial and venous disease development depends on fibrin mesh formation after tissue damage and coagulation activation.
- Fibrin structure and function are critical determinants of cardiovascular risk.
- Plasma factors significantly influence clot structure, more so than purified fibrinogen.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the genetic and environmental contributions to fibrin structure and its role in thrombotic disease.
- To highlight the importance of plasma factors in determining clot characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical evidence, twin, family, and case-control studies.
- Analysis of genetic contributions to coagulation, fibrinolysis, and fibrin structure.
- Consideration of environmental influences on fibrin structure.
Main Results:
- Significant genetic contribution to coagulation and fibrinolytic factors affecting clot structure.
- A notable, though smaller, genetic contribution to fibrin structure itself.
- Environmental factors play a larger role in determining fibrin structure.
Conclusions:
- Fibrin structure is a key factor in cardiovascular risk, influenced by both genetic and environmental elements.
- Further research into post-translational modifications of fibrin(ogen) may illuminate thrombotic disease mechanisms.
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