THE ROLE OF THE MONOCYTE IN THE GENERATION AND DISSOLUTION OF ARTERIAL AND VENOUS THROMBI

Monocyte infiltration into forming thrombus has been demonstrated in e xperimental models of venous thrombosis developed in our laboratories. These cells produce and release plasminogen activators as the thrombu s organises and resolves. Monocytes are also capable of assembling and releasing procoagulant factors and the evidence for their importance in thrombogenesis is reviewed. The ability of monocytes to maintain th is fibrinolytic balance suggests that they may have a role in both thr ombosis and thrombus resolution. Control of the mechanisms which regul ate these activities may therefore be important in preventing thrombus formation or stimulating its resolution. (C) 1998 The International S ociety for Cardiovascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.