Thrombin is one of the main components involved in the blood coagulation process. Thanks to him, a blood clot forms in the wound, which stops bleeding and does not allow the body to lose a lot of blood. The coagulation process itself is quite complicated, so you should consider the work of this coagulation factor in more detail. This will allow a better understanding of the wound healing mechanism.
What is thrombin
A whole group of factors contributing to the process itself takes part in blood coagulation during trauma. This is thrombin, obtained from the prothrombin pro-substance under the action of a special enzyme, thromboplastin, it is a plasma protein fibrinogen, which passes into fibrin. The interaction of these substances with each other produces a blood clot as a result, clogging the wound and stopping the blood.
Thrombin is, first of all, an enzyme, an active substance that catalyzes (that is, accelerates) a chemical process in the body. When there are no injuries in the body, thrombin is in the blood plasma in the form of a chemically inactive substance prothrombin.
After the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, fibrinogen in plasma passes from its soluble form to insoluble. The insoluble form of fibrinogen is the main part of a blood clot clogging an injured vessel. The insoluble form of fibrinogen is called fibrin, and thrombin is an intermediate component that contributes to the rapid transition of one form to another.
The process of education in the body
After platelets in the blood are destroyed by traumatic factors, the enzyme thromboplastin is released from them. It is under the influence of this enzyme that thrombin forms from an inactive form. This way of activating blood coagulation is called extravascular and works only in the event of injury.
But a certain amount of coagulation factors is always present in the blood, and not only if the integrity of the vessel is violated. The path that coagulation follows in this case is called the vascular, it begins on the inside of the vessel through activation, the so-called Hageman factor.
The release of any of these factors triggers a cascade of biochemical reactions involving enzymes that trigger the clotting process in seconds. Due to the fact that mainly enzymatic substances are involved in these biochemical reactions, the reactions are called proteolytic.
Collapse Functions
Since thrombin is an enzyme, its functions, like those of most other proteolytic substances, are to activate and accelerate various reactions within the body. This enzyme works only as part of the blood coagulation process.
The lack or lack of enzymes necessary for coagulation leads to difficulties in stopping bleeding. Violation of such a plan is called "hemophilia" and is transmitted genetically. Problems with a lack of proteolytic substances and bleeding disorders can lead not only to disability, but also to death. Children and people who are indicated for surgical interventions are especially at risk.
Use in medicine
Thrombin is used in medicine for its intended purpose: as part of agents that promote blood clotting and stop bleeding. Such remedies can be useful both to surgeons during surgery, where the possible loss of blood from a patient should be carefully monitored, and to doctors of other specialties, for example, dentists, resuscitators.
Thrombin in the form of medications is produced in the form of a white powder in vials or ampoules, which is subsequently dissolved in saline and applied topically. This is done by soaking with a solution of gauze swab from a sterile syringe. It is forbidden to enter it into a vein or muscle, as this causes numerous thromboses.
The most common are hemostatic tampons or sponges, which are used during operations, and are also placed in the wound. Sponges can be of various sizes: from large products for operations on large vessels to small cubes that are used in dental practice.
Control
In some cases, the amount of thrombin in the body can increase, which leads to a state, the reverse state of hemophilia - increased blood coagulation. Excessive blood clot formation can lead to thromboembolism - blockage of blood vessels by blood clots. In some cases, this can lead to severe health problems, and sometimes death. Therefore, a patient who is at risk of increased thrombosis should regularly undergo tests for the presence of thrombogenic factors. Special drugs help control their amount. In especially severe cases, the patient is hospitalized and treated with substances that thin the blood.