Coagulants are the agents responsible for blood clotting.
Anticoagulants are those medicines that stop blood clotting.
BLOOD CLOTTING - blood Clotting is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, resulting in a blood clot. It might result in hemostasis, the stopping of blood loss from a damaged vessel, followed by repair.
Mechanism of blood clotting –
Three phases in hemostasis take place quickly one after the other.
1. Vascular spasm –
In this process, Due to the release of activated platelets, a blood vessel's smooth muscle contracts and reduces blood loss.
2. Formation of platelets plugs –
In this process, Platelets combined to create a plug that attached to the damaged blood vessels.
3. Blood coagulation clotting –
In this process, Insoluble proteins called fibrins are produced, which cause more blood clots (network of fibrin).
Now these clots are now trapping RBC and sealing the damaged blood arteries.
This process involves thirteen factor and two pathways.
First, when extrinsic and intrinsic pathways are activated in response to stress, which lead to activate the X factor.
This further initiates the common processes by which they change prothrombin into thrombin.
Now, Fibrins form clots that enclose RBC and repair damage.
Fibrin are insoluble protein fibres which forms clots.
Classification | Example | Mechanism of Action | Uses | Side Effects |
Vitamin K (Coagulant) | Menadione, Acetomenadione | Vitamin K is required for the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, X in the liver | Used to treat or prevent vitamin K deficiency and certain bleeding disorders | Hypersensitivity reactions, hemolytic anemia, jaundice (rare) |
Vitamin K antagonists (Anticoagulant) | Warfarin*, Anisindione | Inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase, preventing the activation of vitamin K and thereby reducing the synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, X | Used to prevent and treat thromboembolic disorders like deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke | Bleeding, skin necrosis, teratogenic effects |
Antiplatelet agents (Anticoagulant) | Clopidogrel | Inhibits the ADP receptor on platelets, preventing platelet aggregation | Used to prevent stroke, myocardial infarction, and other forms of arterial thrombosis | Bleeding, rash, diarrhea, neutropenia (rare) |