Natural eicosanoids in regulation of blood coagulation.

Metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, are important physiological regulators of blood coagulation. In contrast to many other substances involved in coagulation, eicosanoids affect virtually all links of hemostasis; they are responsible for blood vessel wall thromboresistance and its acquisition of procoagulant properties in response to various agonists, regulate the extent of cell-to-cell interactions, modulate reactions of plasma hemostasis and blood fibrinolytic activity, and change hemodynamic parameters. Such complex effects of eicosanoids on thrombogenesis suggest that they are unique and extremely important biologically active substances that strongly determine the balance of anticoagulant and procoagulant factors.