Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
08:01
The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well
Published on: February 27, 2026
[Antiphospholipid antibodies and haemostasis]
J Masliah-Planchon1, L Darnige
1Service d'hématologie biologique, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, 20, rue Leblanc, 75908 Paris cedex 15, France.
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|November 22, 2011
Summary
Antiphospholipid syndrome involves blood clots and pregnancy issues due to antiphospholipid antibodies. Research is advancing understanding of thrombosis risk and diagnostic tests for this autoimmune condition.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
Context:
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder.
- Characterized by recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy complications.
- Associated with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs).
Purpose:
- To review the mechanisms by which aPLs increase thrombosis risk.
- To provide an update on laboratory diagnostics for APS.
- To discuss potential future therapies for APS.
Summary:
- Antiphospholipids are autoantibodies linked to thrombosis risk.
- They can paradoxically prolong in vitro clotting times.
- Understanding pathophysiologic mechanisms is improving.
Impact:
- Advances in understanding APS pathophysiology.
- Potential for future predictive tests for thrombosis risk.
- Informs development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
01:24Disorders of Hemostasis
Hemostasis, the process that stops bleeding after a blood vessel injury, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system. However, disorders of hemostasis can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to either excessive clotting or bleeding. These disorders can be broadly classified into thromboembolic disorders and bleeding disorders.
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
Thromboembolic Disorders
Two factors primarily cause thromboembolic conditions.
01:20Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
Blood clotting or coagulation involves extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, which ultimately merge into the common pathway, forming a fibrin clot.
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
01:30Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
Venous thrombosis, the most common disorder of the veins, involves the formation of a thrombus or blood clot associated with vein inflammation. It can be classified as either superficial vein thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis.Superficial Vein Thrombosis: This involves the formation of a thrombus in a superficial vein, usually the greater or lesser saphenous vein. Though less severe than deep vein thrombosis (DVT), SVT can lead to complications if untreated.Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This...
01:05Introduction to Hemostasis
Hemostasis is a complex physiological process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. It's crucial for maintaining the integrity of the circulatory system, as it ensures that our blood remains fluid while still within the vascular network and yet clots to prevent blood loss upon vessel injury.
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized, and...
The three phases of hemostasis involve many clotting factors present in plasma and several substances released by platelets and injured tissue cells. It is a fast, localized, and...
01:16Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
After a fibrin clot is formed, the next step is clot retraction, a vital process facilitated by platelet contractile proteins, such as actin and myosin. These proteins pull the fibrin strands closer together and condense the clot. This action reduces the size of the clot, creating a smaller, denser structure that effectively seals off the damaged vessel. Clot retraction consolidates the clot and helps with wound healing by bringing the edges of the damaged blood vessel closer together.