Coagulation factor Xa as driver of cardiovascular diseases

Anticoagulants have been used for decades to prevent an overactive coagulation system and thereby prevent thrombosis. However, more and more animal studies show that the coagulation system can also influence the course of cardiovascular diseases through direct communication with cells. In this thesis, it has been shown that inhibition of the coagulation system reduces various cardiovascular diseases, including damage reduction to the heart after myocardial infarction. In addition, the research shows that anticoagulant drugs can reduce the development of arteriosclerosis; even advanced arteriosclerosis could be reduced after mice were treated with anticoagulation. Follow-up research should further investigate the processes that contribute to this protective effect, so that cardiovascular diseases can be better treated in in the future.