Thrombosis causes

Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [mailto:urastogi@perfuse.org]

Overview
Rudolf Virchow noted several factors affecting the clot formation, which are as follows:

1).Alterations in blood flow (stasis) : Blood flows throughout the circulatory system, without significantly stopping or slowing any where. In certain pathological conditions where the blood flow slows down or stops, it causes This increases the risk of clot formation and form microthrombi, which further grow and propagate.
 * a) Increase in platelet to endothelium contact
 * b) Decrease the dilution of clotting factors

2).Injury to the vascular endothelium : Intrinsic or secondary to external trauma (Eg. catheterization) can cause intimal damage and stimulates clot formation. See Coagulation

3).Alterations in the constitution of blood (hypercoagulability) :It is the propensity to develop thrombosis due to an abnormality in the system of coagulation.

These three conditions are collectively known as Virchow's triad and lead to intravascular coagulation, forming a mass of red blood cells, leukocytes, and fibrin.

This video explains the process of thrombosis



Other Causes
High altitude, has also been known to induce thrombosis  Occasionally, abnormalities in coagulation are to blame.