Heparin, coumarin, protein C, antithrombin, fibrinolysis and other clotting related resistances: old and new concepts in blood coagulation

The concept of resistance in blood coagulation has become important. In the past it was limited to the resistance shown by some patients to heparin, coumarin or aspirin. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that a mutation in a single clotting factor, FV, showed resistance to activated protein C. Since activated protein C is supposed to downregulate aFV and aFVIII, their persistence in the circulation gives origin to a hypercoagulable state. Recently antithrombin resistance has been defined. Several prothrombin abnormalities (dysprothrombinemias) have been shown to be resistant to the action of antithrombin. This is associated with the occurrence of a trombophilic state. Prothrombin may therefore be associated like FV with both a bleeding condition (prothrombin deficiency) and a thrombophilic state (some dysprothrombinemias). Finally, thrombomodulin resistance has been defined in liver cirrhosis. These patients often show an increased ratio between FVIII levels and protein C. This imbalance may be partly responsible for the frequent presence of portal vein thrombosis seen in these patients. All these studies have greatly increased the complexity of the clotting mechanisms and interactions. They have cast light on clinical events which had remained unknown or ill-defined.