Direct thrombin inhibitors
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (pronunciation: di-rect throm-bin in-hib-it-ors) are a class of medication that directly inhibit the activity of Thrombin, one of the main components of the Coagulation Cascade.
Etymology
The term "Direct Thrombin Inhibitors" is derived from the English language. "Direct" refers to the direct action of the medication on the enzyme, "Thrombin" is the enzyme that is inhibited, and "Inhibitors" refers to the action of the medication, which is to inhibit or reduce the activity of the enzyme.
Mechanism of Action
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors work by directly binding to the active site of the enzyme Thrombin, thereby inhibiting its ability to convert Fibrinogen into Fibrin, a key step in the Coagulation Cascade. This prevents the formation of blood clots.
Related Terms
- Anticoagulant: A type of drug that prevents blood clotting.
- Thrombin: An enzyme in blood plasma that causes the clotting of blood.
- Coagulation Cascade: A series of reactions in which one clotting factor activates the next.
- Fibrinogen: A protein in the blood plasma that is essential for the coagulation of blood.
- Fibrin: A fibrous protein involved in the clotting of blood.
See Also
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