When you get a cut or other internal or external injury – any time a blood vessel is damaged – a protein known as von Willebrand factor (VWF) goes into action. It binds to blood platelets and attaches them to the injury site, causing coagulation to begin. The coagulating blood thickens, closing the wound with a clot and giving it the chance to heal.
Not all clots are welcome, however. The development of clots in veins and arteries, called thrombosis, can block blood flow and cause pain or swelling. The clots can also break loose and flow to the heart or lungs. This can lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack.
“Drugs that are currently used to treat thrombosis – blood thinners like warfarin or Eliquis – create the risk of excessive bleeding as a side effect,” Gianluca Interlandi, the principal investigator on the studies, said. “We’re asking: Is it possible to design a therapeutic that blocks the formation of a dangerous clot without affecting the typical, beneficial clotting response that we want in case of injury?”
