Plasma contact factors as therapeutic targets

Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) are small molecule inhibitors of the coagulation proteases thrombin and factor Xa that demonstrate comparable efficacy to warfarin for several common indications, while causing less serious bleeding. However, because their targets are required for the normal host-response to bleeding (hemostasis), DOACs are associated with therapy-induced bleeding that limits their use in certain patient populations and clinical situations. The plasma contact factors (factor XII, factor XI, and prekallikrein) initiate blood coagulation in the activated partial thromboplastin time assay.

Source: Blood Reviews - April 11, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Benjamin F. Tillman, Andras Gruber, Owen J.T. McCarty, David Gailani Tags: Review Source Type: research