Editing Thrombus (section)

==Prognosis==
Thrombus formation can have one of four outcomes: propagation, embolization, dissolution, and organization and recanalization.<ref>{{cite book |first=Vinay |last=Kumar |title=Robbins Basic Pathology |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Saunders/Elsevier |year=2007 |edition= 8th |isbn=978-1-4160-2973-1 |display-authors=etal}}</ref>
# Propagation of a thrombus occurs towards the direction of the heart and involves the accumulation of additional platelets and fibrin. This means that it is anterograde in veins or retrograde in arteries.
# [[Embolization]] occurs when the thrombus breaks free from the vascular wall and becomes mobile, thereby traveling to other sites in the vasculature. A venous embolus (mostly from [[deep vein thrombosis]] in the [[human leg|lower limbs]]) will travel through the systemic circulation, reach the right side of the heart, and travel through the pulmonary artery, resulting in a pulmonary embolism. Arterial thrombosis resulting from hypertension or atherosclerosis can become mobile and the resulting emboli can occlude any artery or arteriole downstream of the thrombus formation. This means that cerebral stroke, myocardial infarction, or any other organ can be affected.
# Dissolution occurs when the [[fibrinolysis|fibrinolytic mechanisms]] break up the thrombus and blood flow is restored to the vessel. This may be aided by fibrinolytic drugs such as Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) in instances of coronary artery occlusion. The best response to fibrinolytic drugs is within a couple of hours, before the fibrin meshwork of the thrombus has been fully developed.
# Organization and recanalization involves the ingrowth of [[smooth muscle]] cells, [[fibroblast]]s and [[endothelium]] into the [[fibrin]]-rich thrombus. If recanalization proceeds it provides capillary-sized channels through the thrombus for continuity of blood flow through the entire thrombus but may not restore sufficient blood flow for the metabolic needs of the downstream tissue.<ref name=":0" />