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| Thrombosis encyclopedia |
This thrombosis encyclopedia is an alphabetical list of the thrombosis-related terms used on this website. |
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Anticoagulants
Drugs used to treat and/or prevent blood clots
Anticlotting agents/anticoagulants
Blood-thinning substances that prevent blood from clotting
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Medications to reduce swelling and inflammation
aPTT test
Activated partial thromboplastin time test: conducted at least once a day in patients receiving unfractionated heparin to ensure that they are receiving the correct dose
Arteries
Blood vessels with thick muscular walls that assist in the maintenance of blood pressure; they carry the blood under high pressure away from the heart
B
B-mode ultrasonography
Painless test that can be used to help produce a two-dimensional image of any blood clots in the veins on a computer screen
Bed rest
Remaining in a lying position, in bed, to minimize activity and help recovery from disease
Blood-thinner pills
Sometimes called oral anticoagulants. These are tablets used to prevent and/or treat thrombosis. The most commonly used are warfarin and coumadin
C
Cardiovascular disease
Disease of the heart, blood vessels, or circulation
Chemotherapy
Cancer-killing chemicals
Color duplex scanning
A combination of color scans to visualize blood vessels and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound to detect the direction of blood flow. It measures velocity of blood flow, how much damage there is to the veins and exactly where the damage is
Combined oral contraceptive pill
Contraceptive pills containing a mixture of 2 hormones, estrogen and progestogen, that are similar to those that are naturally produced in women
Compression stockings
Special, thick elastic stockings that increase the rate of blood flow through the veins in your legs
Compression therapy
Devices that are used on the leg to improve blood flow, e.g. bandages and stockings
Compression ultrasound
A simple and easy test using sound waves to determine if there is a clot in your veins
Continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound
A painless method of diagnosing thrombosis. It uses sound waves to measure the speed at which your blood flows
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D
Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)
The formation of a blood clot within one of the large, deep veins of the upper or lower limbs
Diagnosis
Confirmation of a condition or disease
Diagnostic laparoscopy
An examination of the inside of the abdomen using a pencil-thin camera through a small incision in the skin
Diagnostic test
Test used to diagnose a condition or disease
Doppler ultrasonography
A painless method of diagnosing deep-vein thrombosis. It uses sound waves to measure the speed with which your blood flows
Duplex scanning
For diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis. Combines Doppler ultrasonography with real-time B-mode ultrasonography. A painless test to measure blood flow and visualize thrombi
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E
Economy-class syndrome
A term used to refer to thrombosis related to long periods of air travel. This may be misleading because there is little proof that the class you travel in affects your chances of developing thrombosis
Elastic graduated compression stockings
Special, thick stockings that increase the rate of blood flow through the veins in your legs
Estrogens
Hormones that are included in oral contraceptive pills and in hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
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H
Heparin
A drug (anticoagulant) that is given by injection or an intravenous trip to treat and/or prevent blood clots
Home treatment
Treatment that is given in your own home
HRT
Hormone replacement therapy. Provides hormones (estrogen or estrogen plus progestogen) to replace those no longer produced by the body, in order to relieve menopausal symptoms
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I
Immobility
Having very limited movement, e.g. confined to bed
Impedance plethysmography
For diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis. A technique using an inflatable pneumatic cuff to evaluate venous thrombosis and blood flow
Inferior vena cava interruption
Partial interruption of the inferior vena cava (the vein that carries blood from the lower body to the right side of the heart) using clips or sutures (‘stitches’) and filters to prevent the blood clot from reaching the lung
Inherited thrombophilia
An increased tendency for blood clotting that some people have inherited genetically from their parents
INR
International normalized ratio. A standardized method for reporting prothrombin time, a test used to measure the thinness of the blood in people receiving oral anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication).
Intermittent pneumatic compression
Inflatable garments that are intermittently inflated with air by a pump to increase pressure on the leg to improve blood flow
Invasive diagnostic test
Test that involves breaking the skin (e.g. by injection or insertion of a catheter) or entering a body cavity or organ
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L
LMWH
Low-molecular-weight heparin. A commonly used type of anticoagulant drug to prevent or treat thrombosis
M
Mechanical devices
Devices that are used on the leg to improve blood flow, e.g. bandages, stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack
N
Noninvasive diagnostic test
Test that does not involve breaking the skin or entering a body cavity or organ
O
Obesity
Increased body weight caused by too much fat in the body that is associated with an increased risk of disease and adverse symptoms
Oral anticoagulants
Sometimes called blood-thinner pills. These are tablets that have been used for many years to prevent and treat thrombosis. The most commonly used are warfarin and coumadin
Orthopedics
A medical speciality that focuses on how your bones, muscles, and joints work together
Osteoporosis
Loss of bone tissue leading to brittle bones
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P
Pentasaccharide
A drug (anticoagulant) that has recently become available in some countries to prevent blood clots
Platelets
Minute cell fragments in your blood that are important in the blood clotting process
Post-thrombotic (or post-phlebitic) syndrome
The long-lasting swelling, coloration, pain and ulceration that sometimes occur after an episode of deep-vein thrombosis
Progestogens
Hormones that are included in oral contraceptive pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Prophylaxis
Suppressing the activation of blood coagulation (clotting) or maintaining the blood’s rate of flow in the veins in order to help prevent thrombosis
PT test
Prothrombin time test. Conducted to ensure that you are receiving the correct dose of warfarin
Pulmonary angiography
For diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism. A technique that involves passing a long catheter through a vein in your groin, up through the veins, through the right side of your heart and into the pulmonary arteries. These arteries are then injected with dye and an X ray is taken to evaluate blood flow
Pulmonary embolism (PE)
The most serious complication of deep-vein thrombosis. PE occurs when a venous blood clot becomes dislodged and is carried by the blood to the lungs where it obstructs the arteries and reduces or prevents the flow of blood to the lungs
Pulmonary hypertension
Raised blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs
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R
Radiation therapy
Cancer-killing X rays
Risk factors
Factors that increase your chances of developing a disease or condition, e.g. thrombosis
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S
Sensitivity
A test for deep-vein thrombosis is sensitive if it has a good probability of correctly indicating which patients suspected of having DVT actually have this condition
Specificity
A test for deep-vein thrombosis is specific if it has a good probability of correctly indicating which patients suspected of having deep-vein thrombosis actually do not have this condition
Spiral CT scanning
Spiral computed tomography scanning. For diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. A noninvasive, painless X-ray technique that results in a cross-sectional picture of your blood vessels and any thrombi
Superficial system (of veins)
The system of veins close to the surface of your skin
Superficial thrombosis
The development of blood clots in the veins close to the surface of your skin
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T
Thrombectomy
Surgical removal of a thrombus
Thrombocytopenia
Low platelet count in the blood
Thrombolytics
Medications that lyse blood clots, i.e. cause them to disintegrate. They are normally used in combination with anticoagulants
Thrombophilia
An increased tendency for blood clotting
Thromboprophylaxis
Therapy to prevent thrombosis
Thrombosis
The development of blood clots
Thrombus
A blood clot
Treatment
Therapy to prevent death from pulmonary embolism (PE), reduce disease related to deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE, minimize symptoms caused by earlier inflammation of a vein, and, following DVT or PE, to prevent raised blood pressure in the veins between the heart and lungs
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U
UFH
Unfractionated heparin. A commonly used anticoagulant medication to prevent or treat thrombosis
V
Varicose veins
Veins that have become permanently wider and have more turns and twists than normal. (Most often veins near the surface of the legs.)
Veins
Blood vessels with thin fibrous walls; they carry blood at low pressure from the tissues of the body back to the heart and have one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backwards
Venography (phlebography)
For diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis. An X ray of your veins to see how your blood is flowing. A dye is used to help visualize your blood flow
Venous hypertension
High blood pressure in the veins
Ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scanning
A common diagnostic test for pulmonary embolism. This test assesses the flow of air within your lungs and the flow of blood to your lungs
Suggest a term
If you notice that a thrombosis-related term is missing from this list, please send an e-mail to inate@elsevier.com. If you have any specific personal questions or concerns about your health and the risk of thrombosis, or the treatment you have been given, we recommend that you consult your physician.
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Quick answers to common questions about thrombosis and its treatment.
Go to the Common questions section
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An alphabetical list of the thrombosis-related terms used on this website. Go here if you want to learn about terms like 'aPTT test', 'LMWH' and 'osteoporosis'.
Go to the Encylopedia
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