Interpretation of the Pathological Mechanism of Blood Stasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Light of Understanding of Hypercoagulable States in Modern Medicine

Abstract

In both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern medicine, they agree that the integrity and healthy structure of the vascular endothelium are essential for normal hemodynamics. Damage to the vascular endothelium can quickly activate the extrinsic coagulation pathway by triggering the tissue factor (TF) and lead to coagulation. This damage, along with a loss of anticoagulant properties through antithrombin III (AT III), TF pathway inhibitors, and the protein C system, can result in a hypercoagulable state and even thrombosis. Hypercoagulability is not only a common feature of many cancers but also an important factor promoting tumor development and metastasis, which corresponds to the TCM theory of “blood stasis leading to tumors.” The pharmacological effects of heparin and aspirin have similarities with TCM's “activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis” theory in improving blood circulation, treating related diseases, and their anti-inflammatory effects.

Keywords

blood stasis - hypercoagulable state - thrombosis - heparin - aspirin - Traditional Chinese Medicine - modern medicine

CRediT Authorship Contribution Statement

Yong Chen: Conceptualization, project administration, funding acquisition, and writing—review and editing. Yujie Zhang: Writing—original draft.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 12. November 2024

Angenommen: 20. Januar 2025

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
08. April 2025

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