Ethnicity, haemostasis and cardiovascular disease: the evidence from Africa.

Disorders of both coagulation and fibrinolysis contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, essential hypertension, ischaemic stroke and deep vein thrombosis. Different ethnic groups, in particular Blacks, Whites and Asians have different prevalences for the above diseases. Comparisons of these haemostatic processes in different ethnic groups have contributed greatly to the understanding of the pathogenesis of many of these diseases. Such studies, in particular those conducted in Africa, are reviewed below.