HYPERCOAGULABILITY AND THROMBOSIS

Increased knowledge about basic physiology of hemostasis, the identification of new blood protein defects leading to thrombosis, coupled with development of new, simple, readily available laboratory testing techniques now allows the cause of thrombosis to be identified in most patients. Because of this, clinicians and laboratory scientists must not only be familiar with blood protein defects associated with thrombosis, but must evaluate patients in a cooperative manner. Identification of the etiology will depend on both clinical and laboratory evaluation and assumes major importance for designing appropriate therapy.