Semin Thromb Hemost 2018; 44(01): 060-069
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1603937
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Inhibition of Factors XI and XII for Prevention of Thrombosis Induced by Artificial Surfaces

Benjamin Tillman
1   Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
,
David Gailani
1   Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
2   Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
12 September 2017 (online)

Zoom Image

Abstract

Exposure of blood to a variety of artificial surface induces contact activation, a process that contributes to the host innate response to foreign substances. On the foreign surface, the contact factors, factor XII (FXII), and plasma prekallikrein undergo reciprocal conversion to their fully active protease forms (FXIIa and α-kallikrein, respectively) by a process supported by the cofactor high-molecular-weight kininogen. Contact activation can trigger blood coagulation by conversion of factor XI (FXI) to the protease FXIa. There is interest in developing therapeutic inhibitors to FXIa and FXIIa because these activated factors can contribute to thrombosis in certain situations. Drugs targeting these proteases may be particularly effective in thrombosis triggered by exposure of blood to the surfaces of implantable medical devices. Here, we review clinical data supporting roles for FXII and FXI in thrombosis induced by medical devices, and preclinical data suggesting that therapeutic targeting of these proteins may limit surface-induced thrombosis.