Thrombus

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Thrombus
Synonyms	Blood clot
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	N/A
Complications	Embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction
Onset	Sudden or gradual
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Atherosclerosis, trauma, surgery, immobility
Risks	Smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia
Diagnosis	Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, D-dimer test
Differential diagnosis	Embolism, hematoma, aneurysm
Prevention	Anticoagulant therapy, compression stockings, lifestyle modification
Treatment	Anticoagulants, thrombolysis, surgery
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depending on location and treatment
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

Normal vs Diseased Artery

Thrombosis formation

Blood clotting (1909)

Fetal thrombotic vasculopathy

Blood clot illustration

Composition of a fresh thrombus

A Thrombus is a solid or semi-solid mass formed from the constituents of blood within the vascular system during life. It is a natural response to blood vessel damage. The process of thrombus formation is called thrombosis.

Causes

Thrombus formation can occur if the blood flow is slow or stagnant, or if the vessel wall is damaged. Conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart arrhythmias, certain genetic disorders, and some medications can also contribute to thrombus formation.

Types

There are two main types of thrombi: arterial and venous. Arterial thrombi are typically rich in platelets, which are small blood cells that help in clotting. Venous thrombi, on the other hand, are rich in fibrin and trapped red blood cells, and they form in veins where blood flow is slow.

Complications

If a thrombus breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it becomes an embolus. This can cause serious complications, such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, or myocardial infarction.

Treatment

Treatment for a thrombus typically involves anticoagulant medications, which prevent further clotting, and thrombolytic therapy, which dissolves the clot. In some cases, surgical removal of the clot may be necessary.

See also

• Blood clot
• Coagulation
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pulmonary embolism

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