Based in the Philadelphia area, Charles V. Pollack, MD, has more than 35 years of experience as a researcher, clinical trialist, and educator in multiple therapeutic areas. In addition to blood-clotting conditions, Charles V. Pollack, MD, has maintained clinical and research interests in the management of these conditions using various forms of antithrombotic therapy.
Currently, antithrombotic therapy includes two kinds of medications: anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. These therapies can prevent blood clots in arteries or veins and mitigate the severe health issues that may follow. Such interventions are vital for patients at high risk of clot-induced complications such as stroke or heart attack.
How Blood Clot Prevention Works
Also known as blood thinners, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet agents, these work to prevent clot formation by stopping different components of the blood from sticking together where a clot is not needed. This abnormal clotting is called “thrombosis,” and is very different from normal clotting, such as after an injury, which is called “hemostasis.” All blood clots share four components: white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and a protein called fibrin.
The body uses fibrin to help healthy tissue rebuild and wounds heal. Anticoagulants slow down the clotting process, making it more difficult for clots to form and helping prevent the extension of existing clots. A few common anticoagulants include warfarin (Coumadin), apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and dabigatran (Pradaxa).
Antiplatelet Medications and Their Role
Antiplatelets, meanwhile, affect the platelet component in blood clots. Platelets play a critical role in helping the body heal after a wound or injury by limiting blood loss and preventing excess bleeding. Antiplatelets stop platelets from fusing together to form a clot. Common forms of this drug prescribed include clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta), and prasugrel (Effient). In some cases, doctors prescribe multiple medications or recommend that patients take aspirin alongside an antiplatelet medication.
Sometimes, when a clot has already formed and is obstructing blood flow to a vital organ such as the brain or the heart, doctors will give an emergency dose of a thrombolytic.
Use of Thrombolytic Therapy in Emergencies
Also known as fibrinolytics, thrombolytic drugs differ from anticoagulants and antiplatelets in that they target existing clots. These drugs activate proteins made in the liver responsible for breaking up clots, resulting in the production of an enzyme that dissolves the fibrin within it. Unlike other forms of antithrombotic therapy, medical professionals do not recommend thrombolytics for everyday use. These medications are intended for emergency use, and patients usually only begin thrombolytic therapy following a heart attack, stroke, or other medical complication. Intravenous thrombolytics include alteplase and reteplase.
Doctors work closely with patients to determine the safest and most effective therapeutic plan. They may prescribe a single medication or a combination of medications. Even in non-emergency situations, antithrombotic therapy plays a key role in mitigating the potential damage of blood clots. Several diseases and conditions can cause blood clots, and clots can form in or travel to various parts of the body. Clots can cause a range of health problems, from heart attacks to pulmonary embolisms.
Blood-clotting diseases and related health conditions impact many Americans, but advances in medicine have allowed people living with blood disorders to enjoy longer and fuller lives than ever before. Charles V. Pollack, MD, has been involved in the development of nearly every approved antithrombotic agent over the past 25 years.
