New Ultrasound Approach for Thrombosis Prevention

by Colleen Fleiss on March 8, 2019 at 4:13 AM

Researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and the Russian National Research Center for Hematology (NRCH) have proposed a novel approach for the prevention of thrombosis.

In modern clinical practice, thrombolysis is performed when thrombi formed in blood vessels pose a threat to a patient's life. Thrombolytic procedures themselves are associated with a high risk, as they can cause acute bleeding. Sometimes the necessity of thrombolysis appears urgently, for example in myocardial infarction and stroke. In these cases, onset-to-treatment time is a key limitation of thrombolytic therapy efficiency. Therefore, the implementation of a technique for early diagnostics and monitoring of thrombus formation is a matter of great interest.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

A blood clot (thrombus) in the deep venous system of the leg leads to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

‘Scientists have chosen ultrasound as a method for blood coagulation monitoring, since it is noninvasive and allows measurements in deep-lying large blood vessels, in which thrombus formation is most dangerous. ’

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In the paper published in PLOS ONE, a new approach based on ultrasonic registration of blood coagulation in its early stages has been developed. Continuous ultrasonic monitoring of the blood's aggregate state was performed using the in vitro blood flow model. An injection of a fibrinolytic drug was performed automatically on the basis of ultrasonic data. The authors have shown that the ultrasonic monitoring technique allows detecting the stage of coagulation at which timely pharmacological intervention leads to a fast and complete dissolution of the fibrin clots being formed in blood flow.

According to the head of the research group, professor Georgy Guria of MIPT's living systems physics department, who also heads a laboratory at NRCH, "due to the progress in the field of compact ultrasonic sensors, our work opens new prospects for creation of wearable devices for timely medical assistance to patients with a high risk of thrombosis."

The authors are open for collaboration: guria@blood.ru

Source: Eurekalert

Quiz on Deep Vein Thrombosis

Did you know that prolonged sitting can cause a blood clot? Or if that clot stuck in the lungs death ensues? Learn more about deep vein thrombosis from this quiz.

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