Blood clots help to prevent bleeding, but can also cause blockages. This animation explores how anticoagulants target the clotting cascade to treat thrombosis. Find out more about the history of anticoagulant drugs in this interactive timeline from Nature Reviews Cardiology: http://go.nature.com/2phR2BT | Nature Portfolio

Steps Involved in the Coagulation Cascade 1. Vascular Injury: Blood vessel damage triggers the cascade. 2. Platelet Plug Formation: Platelets adhere to the injury site, forming a temporary plug. 3. Activation of Clotting Factors: - Intrinsic Pathway: Activated by trauma inside the vascular system (slow, complex). - Extrinsic Pathway: Triggered by external trauma (fast, simpler). 4. Common Pathway: Both pathways converge, activating Factor X. 5. Thrombin Formation: Factor X converts prothrombin i

Dr. Abhishek Shukla, in today’s session, explained the key differences between antiplatelets and anticoagulants, both of which are antithrombotic agents used to prevent blood clots, but they work through different mechanisms and are used for different clinical conditions. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, and ticagrelor, work by preventing platelets from clumping together to form clots. These medications primarily target arterial clots, which are common in conditions like heart a