Blood Clot Structure and Fibrinolysis in Cardiovascular Conditions

Blood clot structure plays a role in predisposition to atherothrombotic disease, as compact clots are associated with premature and more severe cardiovascular disease. Some genetic variants of clotting factors have been associated with an increased risk of thrombosis by mechanisms that may involve alteration in clot structure. In addition to genes, environmental factors, such as obesity, diabetes and smoking can also predispose to cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is associated with alterations in clot structure and increased thrombosis potential, which may be related to increased glycation of clotting factors, secondary to high plasma glucose.