Hemostasis and atherosclerosis.

Hemostatic factors play a crucial role in generating the occlusive thrombotic plug at sites of vascular damage (atherothrombosis). It remains uncertain, however, whether hemostatic factors contribute directly or indirectly to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. For example, 'hypercoagulable states' (eg, antithrombin deficiency, Factor VLeiden) generally predispose to venous thrombotic events, but not atherosclerosis. Further, 'hemophilic …