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Hypercoagulable Disorders

What is it? | Activation problems | Regulation problems | Breakdown problems | Other factors | Laboratory tests | Treatments | Related Pages |

Problems with coagulation activation

Anything that interrupts the smooth blood vessel walls, essential for constant blood flow, may increase the risk of activating the coagulation cascade. They are not considered true “hypercoagulable disorders” but may exacerbate those that do exist.

  • Blood vessel wall abnormalities (usually combined with a clotting abnormality)
  • Atherosclerosis -- the build-up of cholesterol, lipid and calcium deposits in the walls of arteries. They make the blood vessel walls less smooth, weaken them, and eventually form plaques that may rupture and lead to abnormal clotting and to strokes and heart attacks.
  • Vasculitis -- inflammation of blood vessel walls may increase the risk of platelet adhesion and coagulation factor activation. Healed vasculitis may provide sites within the vessels for accelerated atherosclerosis.

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