fjrigjwwe9r0Board:Content One of the primary treatments applied for patients with coronary artery disease are anticoagulants.The aging process lends itself to increased coagulability. The obvious consequence of hypercoagulability is clot formation and subsequent artery occlusion. Increase in blood viscosity can create a hemodymamic state of ischemia, with its own set of circumstances. Ischemia is defined as low blood flow, which may or may not have total obstruction associated with it. Ischemia can lead to apoptosis and inflammation. Evaluation of ischemic potential can be approached with a functional coagulation panel. This composite of tests includes the typical PT, PTT tests and also the more comprehensive combination of fibrinogen, prothrombin fragments one and two, thrombin-anti-thrombin complexes, soluble fibrin monomers and platelet CD62P (Selectin) receptors. A valuable test for evaluation of clotting is platelet aggregation testing. Platelet aggregation occurs with the presence of adenosine, epinephrine, collagen and thrombin. Most anti-platelet aggregation medications work only in the presence of adenosine (aspirin for example). This may explain why type A personalities using aspirin still have clot formation. In contrast EDTA (ethylene diaminetetraceticacid), inhibits aggregation to all of the substances above with the exception of collagen. Acute phasereaction, particularly a high c-reactive protein, is related to vascular inflammation and or infection.
Substances, such as coumadin affect prothrombin/thrombin activation. Natural products like vitamin E and magnesium have similar properties. Platelet hyperactivity is minimized by aspirin and similarly by other natural products like ginkgo and ginger. Fibrinogen/fibrin monomers can be addressed with enzymatic therapy like bromelain and pancreatin. Natural substances, that have similar reaction to heparin, are arginine, niacin, bromelain and papain. I have found clinically that increased fibrinogen levels of greater than 400 mg respond quickly and effectively to Curcuma longa. |