Can venous thromboembolism navigate the prevention of cardiovascular complications?

Traditionally venous and arterial thrombosis has been viewed as two separate pathophysiological and clinical entities. It is widely accepted that venous thrombi are “red thrombi” being predominantly formed from red blood cells and fibrin. “Red thrombi” usually develop in areas with slow blood flow, such as veins or left atrial appendage of patients with atrial fibrillation. Consequently anticoagulant agents are highly effective for prevention of embolism secondary to venous thrombosis or atrial fibrillation. Although anticoagulants could exert some beneficial effect in arterial thrombosis (e.g., in patients with ischemic heart disease) they have not become a routine part of management of such patients.