- The term thrombosis indicates the formation of a thrombus, a type of blood clot.
- Thrombi can form on the wall of a blood vessel or in one of the chambers of the heart.
When a thrombus obstructs blood flow to the heart or head, it can result in a heart attack
or stroke. - Antithrombotic drugs include anticoagulants, which prevent blood from clotting, and
antiplatelets, which prevent tiny discs that circulate in the blood (platelets), from sticking
to blood vessel walls and to one another. - The goals of antithrombotic therapy are to block the formation of new clots, prevent the
growth of existing clots, and reduce a person’s risk of complications from blood clots.
