Virchow’s triad
virchow’s triad
Virchow’s Triad refers to the three primary factors that contribute to the development of venous thrombosis (blood clot formation). It was proposed by Rudolf Virchow in the 19th century.
⚖️ Components of Virchow’s Triad
- Endothelial Injury
- Damage to the vascular endothelium exposes subendothelial collagen and tissue factor, promoting clotting.
- Causes: trauma, surgery, inflammation, hypertension, atherosclerosis, indwelling catheters.
- Stasis of Blood Flow
- Sluggish or stagnant blood increases the risk of clot formation.
- Causes: prolonged immobility (bed rest, long flights), heart failure, varicose veins, atrial fibrillation.
- Hypercoagulability
- Abnormal tendency of blood to clot.
- Causes: inherited thrombophilias (Factor V Leiden, Protein C/S deficiency), pregnancy, malignancy, oral contraceptives, dehydration, sepsis.
📊 Summary Table
| Virchow’s Triad | Key Examples |
|---|---|
| Endothelial Injury | Trauma, surgery, hypertension, atherosclerosis |
| Stasis of Blood Flow | Prolonged immobility, varicose veins, CHF, AF |
| Hypercoagulability | Factor V Leiden, pregnancy, malignancy, OCPs |
🧠 Clinical Relevance
- Explains the pathogenesis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and other thromboembolic diseases.
- Guides risk assessment and preventive strategies (anticoagulants, compression stockings, early mobilization).
1. Virchow’s Triad explains the pathogenesis of which condition?
Virchow’s triad describes the major risk factors for venous thromboembolism.
2. Which of the following is NOT part of Virchow’s Triad?
Vasospasm is not part of Virchow’s triad.
3. Endothelial injury contributes to thrombosis by:
Endothelial damage exposes subendothelial collagen and tissue factor, promoting clotting.
4. Prolonged bed rest mainly predisposes to thrombosis due to:
Immobility leads to sluggish venous return, i.e. stasis.
5. Which of the following is an example of hypercoagulability?
Inherited thrombophilia such as Factor V Leiden increases coagulability.
6. Pregnancy increases the risk of thrombosis mainly due to:
Pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state.
7. Atrial fibrillation predisposes to thrombosis because of:
AF causes blood stasis in atria, leading to clot formation.
8. Malignancy is associated with thrombosis due to:
Cancers release procoagulants, increasing risk of thrombosis.
9. Which of the following conditions is an example of endothelial injury?
Atherosclerosis damages the endothelium, exposing subendothelial tissue.
10. Which of the following causes venous stasis?
Immobility causes venous stasis by reducing calf muscle pump activity.
11. The triad was proposed by which scientist?
Rudolf Virchow described this triad in the 19th century.
12. Which factor is shared between venous and arterial thrombosis?
Endothelial injury promotes both arterial and venous thrombosis.
13. Which type of embolism is most directly linked to Virchow’s Triad?
Deep vein thrombosis caused by Virchow’s triad can embolize to lungs → PE.
14. Which inherited condition increases hypercoagulability?
Protein C deficiency reduces anticoagulant activity, increasing clot risk.
15. Varicose veins predispose to thrombosis due to:
Varicosities slow venous return → stasis.
16. Oral contraceptive pills increase clot risk via:
OCPs increase clotting factors and decrease anticoagulants → hypercoagulability.
17. Which of the following is the LEAST associated with Virchow’s Triad?
Asthma is not a direct factor in Virchow’s triad.
18. Which factor contributes most in trauma patients?
Trauma causes direct vascular injury leading to clot formation.
19. Nephrotic syndrome predisposes to thrombosis by:
Loss of antithrombin III and protein S in urine increases clotting tendency.
20. Preventive strategies against Virchow’s Triad include:
All these strategies target different components of the triad to reduce clot risk.
