Which factors are included in Virchow's triad associated with thrombus formation?

Virchow's triad outlines the three key factors that contribute to thrombosis, which are stasis, endothelial damage, and hypercoagulability.

Stasis refers to the slowed or stagnant blood flow, which can occur in situations such as prolonged immobility, venous obstruction, or heart failure. When blood flow is stagnant, it increases the likelihood of clot formation as it offers more time for platelets and coagulation factors to interact and form a thrombus.

Endothelial damage involves injury to the blood vessel lining, which can arise from a variety of causes, including physical trauma, hypertension, or the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. When the endothelium is damaged, it exposes collagen and other pro-thrombotic substances to circulating platelets, promoting clot formation.

Hypercoagulability refers to an increased tendency of the blood to clot, which can stem from genetic predispositions, malignancies, pregnancy, and certain medications. Individuals with hypercoagulable states have an elevated risk of thrombus formation due to an imbalance in the mechanisms that promote and inhibit coagulation.

These three components interact in various ways to increase the risk of thrombus development, thus understanding them is crucial for diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings