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Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology pp 1–10Cite as

Anticoagulants

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Synonyms

Blood thinners

Definition

Anticoagulants are drugs that alter the biochemical processes of blood clotting resulting in the prevention or reduction of blood coagulation. They are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for thrombosis prevention and treatment. The coagulation system is a homeostatic regulation process by which the blood is balanced between states of clotting (coagulation) and bleeding (free flow). This complex process is an integral part of maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, ensuring that any trauma to the vasculature is sufficiently controlled in order to avoid excessive blood loss and hemodynamic compromise. Conversely, excessive activation of this system may result in thrombosis, an intravascular clot formation that disrupts blood circulation.

Hypercoagulability, stasis, and injury/trauma (otherwise referred to as Virchow’s triad) contribute to the formation of a thrombus (Esmon 2009). Hypercoagulability, or thrombophilia (an increased tendency of blood to...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA

    Pius S. Fasinu & Stephanie A. Kustos

Authors
  1. Pius S. Fasinu
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  2. Stephanie A. Kustos
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Correspondence to Pius S. Fasinu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut Herz/Lungenforschg., Bad Nauheim, Hessen, Germany

    Stefan Offermanns

  2. Presidential Office, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena, Thüringen, Germany

    Walter Rosenthal

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Fasinu, P.S., Kustos, S.A. (2021). Anticoagulants. In: Offermanns, S., Rosenthal, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21573-6_166-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21573-6_166-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-21573-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-21573-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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