Haemostasis

Abstract

Haemostasis is a vital bodily function to prevent excessive bleeding or formation of unnecessary thrombus. Blood vessel injury instigates a complex interplay between four major components: endothelial cells, platelets, clotting factors and their regulators, and the fibrinolytic pathway. Problems within each component can lead to an increased clotting or bleeding risk. A thorough bleeding and family history is important as routine laboratory clotting tests do not always detect a haemostatic defect.