Factors which disturb this balance, such as the occurrence of a small wound, lead to formation of larger blood clots which are then often visible. However, an artificial heart valve can also disturb the existing balance. Bleeding must be stopped Blood is an organ just like the heart, liver or the kidneys and has a wide range of tasks to fulfill. Unlike the solid organs (e.g. the liver), in the case of the blood there is a constant risk of blood loss through damage to the vascular system. As we all know, substantial blood loss is not compatible with life. Thus, in the course of evolution a highly specialized and complex biological system has developed which has the task of keeping the liquid organ blood within the vascular system: the haemostatic system.
What is coagulation and what factors influence it?
Blood is an organ just like the heart, liver or the kidneys and has a wide range of tasks to fulfil. Unlike the solid organs (e.g. the liver), in the case of the blood there is a constant risk of blood loss through damage to the vascular system. As we all know, substantial blood loss is not compatible with life. Thus, in the course of evolution a highly specialized and complex biological system has developed which has the task of keeping the liquid organ blood within the vascular system: the haemostatic system.
If a blood vessel in the body is injured the following reactions occur one after the other:
- constriction of the blood vessels through a reflex of the muscle fibres;
- attachment of blood platelets to the wound surface and to each other (platelet aggregation - clumping together of the platelets);
- the actual coagulation process in which fibrinogen, a soluble protein from the blood, is converted into a network of fibrin filaments by the enzyme thrombin.
We can thus see that haemostasis (the arrest of bleeding) and coagulation (blood clotting) are not the same thing. However, coagulation is probably the most important and certainly the most complex mechanism involved in haemostasis.
Coagulation can, as we know, be readily influenced by anticoagulant drugs.
The platelets are the smallest cells - actually only cell fragments - in the blood. They have a diameter of 2-3 thousandths of a millimetre and possess a certain natural "stickiness". Certain stimuli, e.g. a small but rough wound surface in the blood vessel (connective tissue fibres protruding from the vascular wall) increase this "stickiness" tremendously. As a result, the platelets - also known as thrombocytes - stick to the fibres along with many more of their kind. The platelets form a very dense, multi-layered plug which closes the wound. This is usually enough to stop the bleeding.
But beware, this is not a permanent seal! Slight changes in pressure in the circulatory system (e.g. by straining) or abrupt movements of the body can be enough to tear open this seal. Bleeding starts again. So a mechanism is required which stabilizes the clump of platelets and attaches it firmly to the edges of the wound.
Only coagulation permits secure closure of the wound, a process only finally completed when the wound has healed.
Nature makes sure that coagulation takes place quickly so that as little as possible of the valuable blood is lost either externally, e.g. after a cut, or internally if the blood enters the tissues, i.e. internal bleeding occurs.
The body therefore has a dozen or so coagulation factors designated by Roman numerals in the order of their discovery (e.g. factor II, VII). These coagulation factors are blood proteins and are produced in the liver.
Under the influence of vitamin K, some of them, namely factors II, VII, IX and X, are altered in such a way that, in the event of an injury, they are able to bind to the platelets already adhering to the wound surface and to other coagulation factors. In order for this binding to take place, calcium is also required as a bridge, i.e. without free calcium coagulation is not possible.
Why, one might ask, is coagulation so complicated, why are so many coagulation factors involved? One can picture the sequence of events as follows: a small initiating impulse - triggered by a small injury - releases a little tissue thromboplastin (tissue fluid) thus setting in motion the chains of reaction of all coagulation factors. The combination of these chains of reaction has a tremendous amplifying effect. It is like setting off a firework when the tiny glowing fuse triggers a chemical chain reaction which culminates in the development of a tremendous explosive force.
The coagulation process is similar: However, it takes a few minutes for a blood clot to form. With such a chain reaction mechanism, there is always the risk of coagulation spreading from the site of the injury into the blood vessel and possibly involving the entire body. However, fortunately this does not happen as the blood also contains substances that suppress coagulation (so-called inhibitors: e.g. antithrombin, protein C and S) and keep the successfully triggered coagulation process in check.
An intact haemostatic mechanism is essential for life. However, small hereditary changes in certain coagulation factors or inhibitors can result in a tendency to increased blood coagulation and thus to thrombosis.
A thrombosis is a blood clot in a blood vessel which often blocks the entire vessel. The development of thromboses is particularly promoted by large wound surfaces, such as regularly occur in the case of operations or large injuries, as these release pro-coagulatory substances (thromboplastin).
Thromboses are also encouraged by slower blood flow, e.g. through prolonged bed rest or sitting for many hours in an aeroplane, by atrial fibrillation or by arteriosclerotic changes in the walls of the blood vessels.
Artificial heart valves are a special situation. The valve is made of a high-tech material with an extremely smooth surface; however the material does not resemble the natural surface of the endothelial cells which line the heart and the blood vessels.
The body does not recognize the artificial heart valve as a wound but as a "foreign surface". The blood proteins which bind to the artificial heart valve become altered in such a way that they trigger coagulation (coagulation factors XII and XI). If normal coagulation were not suppressed, further coagulation factors would then be activated and the formation of blood clots on the valve would be the result.
This could be dangerous if the blood clot were to become detached by the bloodstream and carried to the brain, for example. To prevent this from happening, immediately after implantation of the artificial heart valve the reactivity of the coagulation system is reduced a little - but only enough to ensure that neither bleeding nor blood clots occur.
The drug most frequently used in the German speaking countries for this purpose is phenprocoumon (Marcumar®). The tablets have a relatively prolonged and constant action. Although phenprocoumon has a chemical structure very similar to that of vitamin K it does not have the same action. Phenprocoumon suppresses some of the action of vitamin K - i.e. the complete formation of the coagulation factors in the liver. Phenprocoumon thus displaces the vitamin K required for the formation of coagulation factors.
Certain amounts of coagulation factors are formed but they are unable to bind firmly to platelets and other coagulation factors. The rapid blood clotting necessary after an injury does not begin immediately in patients taking Marcumar®. Coagulation takes longer and stronger stimuli are required to start the process.
On the other hand, the suppressed action of the coagulation factors prevents the formation of fibrin and the clumping of blood platelets on the surface of the heart valve as the thrombin formed during coagulation also enhances the "stickiness" of the platelets.
Coagulation is a process which on the one hand protects us on the other hand must be very well balanced in order to prevent possible complications.
In order for the artificially created new balance to remain stable, the INR values must be regularly monitored and the dosage of the anticoagulant adjusted as necessary.
Dr. med. Wolfgang Prohaska, Heart- and Diabetes-Center North Rhine Westphalia, Georgstr. 11, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen/Germany (July 2006)
Notice to patients:
Please speak to your doctor before taking any medication other than that which has been prescribed by him. Please always tell the pharmacist that you are on oral anticoagulation therapy when purchasing any medication over the counter. This also applies to creams and gels as well as to tablets.
Speak to your doctor before applying any therapy subsequent to the aforementioned information.
