ABSTRACT
The clotting of blood, which protects against hemorrhage, involves the sequential initiation, interaction, and completion of several stages in hemostasis. The adhesion and
aggregation of platelets
are mediated via the release of
adenosine
diphosphate
(ADP). An extensive number of pharmacological agents, such as
acetylsalicylic acid
,
indomethacin
,
phenylbutazone
,
sulfinpyrazone
,
and
dipyridamole
, and foods, such as garlic and onion, inhibit both platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, and thus may be of value in the treatment of thrombotic disorders. The formation of fibrin itself takes place by means of a cascading group of reactions involving numerous blood-clotting factors and is accomplished in several stages (see Table 6).
