Sickle cell vaso-occlusion: The clot thickens

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Sparkenbaugh et al reported that inhibition of tissue factor, the initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, or of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), the endothelial receptor for thrombin, attenuates microvascular occlusion in murine sickle cell disease, suggesting anticoagulation should be explored for the prevention of vaso-occlusive events.