IMPACT OF CONTACT SYSTEM ON CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Contact and intrinsic coagulation pathway components are involved in pathological thrombus formation. In addi­tion to coagulation, contact system activation is involved in anti/profibrinolytic and inflammatory processes that can contribute to the atherosclerotic and thrombotic en­vironment, leading to cardiovascular diseases. This lite­rature review concerns the role of the contact system on cardiovascular diseases and accentuates the potential of coagulation factors FXII (FXII) and FXI (FXI) as targets for antithrombotic therapy.