[The role of thrombin in hemostasis].

Thrombin is a serine protease that plays a central role in hemostatic and thrombotic events. The structure, different forms of thrombin, its role in platelet activation and in other cellular effects are reviewed. Two distinct receptors involved in platelet activation induced by alpha-thrombin are presented: a high affinity (GPIb) coupled to phospholipase A2 and a moderate affinity, G protein associated with seven transmembrane domain receptor (STDR) coupled to phospholipase C.