Fact sheet: What is hemostasis?
Hemostasis is the physiological process that stops bleeding, involving a complex interplay of platelets, blood vessels, and coagulation factors to form a blood clot at the site of injury, ultimately maintaining vascular integrity and preventing excessive blood loss.
Conditions arising from abnormalities in hemostasis can manifest as either excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) or excessive clotting (thrombosis). Hemophilia, a genetic disorder characterized by deficient or defective clotting factors, exemplifies an instance of abnormal hemostasis leading to profuse bleeding. Similarly, von Willebrand disease, thrombocytopenia, and diverse coagulation factor deficiencies underscore the spectrum of disorders arising from disruptions in the intricate balance of hemostatic mechanisms, illustrating the critical importance of proper hemostasis for maintaining vascular integrity and preventing adverse outcomes.
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