Hirudin and other thrombin inhibitors experimental results and potential clinical applications.

Thrombosis results from the activation of the hemostatic system by pathologic stimuli. It is a dynamic process that involves various blood cells and proteins, the nature of blood flow, and substrate characteristics. The classic description of the hemostatic system encompasses the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems, the platelets, and the endothelium. Thrombin plays a central role in thrombus formation, interacting with the components of the hemostatic system and vessel wall.