[Observations on pathophysiology and pathogenesis of venous thrombosis]

Even today, Virchow's triad is still a useful method for describing the circumstances under which thrombosis can occur. To investigate the underlying pathophysiological principles, however, the methods must differentiate more clearly. Only recently, the complicated interactions of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis have been described. Although detailed determinations of markers of activated coagulation and fibrinolysis can be performed, it has not been possible to achieve a reliable screening method to indicate the individual patient's risk. Alterations in the endothelial cells seem to play a key role in thrombogenesis. The clinician's interest in thrombosis research is based on several open or insufficiently answered questions, such as why thrombosis can occur in veins for away from the site of the operation, whether reliable and simple screening methods can be established in order to determine the patient's risk constellation, and how the methods of preventing thrombosis and administering therapy can be improved.