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Atherosclerosis and Thrombus
Formation
Thrombus Formation II -- Platelet
Activation and Blood Flow
 Under
high fluid shear-stress conditions, there is evidence that
platelet aggregation depends on the binding of vWF (indicated
in blue) to platelet GPIIb/IIIa [D'Souza E, et al, 1994; Moake
JL, et al. J Clin Invest. 1986;78:1456-61]. It has also
been shown that blockade of vWF-GPIIb/IIa interaction inhibits
platelet aggregation and thrombus formation without disturbing
the initial platelet adhesion [Aleviadou RB, et al. Blood.
1993;81:1263].
Thus, vWF appears to play a crucial
role in both platelet adhesion and platelet aggregation under
high shear-stress conditions, such as turbulent blood flow
in atherosclerotic vessels. The importance of vWF is
further supported by an association between elevated vWF concentrations
and arterial thrombosis [Jansson HH, et al. Br Heart J. 1991;66:351].
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Stroke Education
