Mechanism Behind Deadly Blood-Clotting Disorder Found
Researchers at McMaster University have identified a molecular mechanism that causes some patients to develop dangerous blood clots when treated with the blood thinner heparin. By discovering a structural switch in the protein PF4, the team hopes to develop better diagnostic tests and preventative therapies for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Why it matters
This discovery could significantly improve patient safety for those requiring blood thinners by allowing for earlier detection and prevention of life-threatening immune reactions.
HAMILTON, Ont. - A cross-campus team of McMaster University researchers has identified why some patients develop dangerous blood clots after exposure to a common blood thinner - and a potential way to prevent it.
The study, published on Sept. 11, 2026 in Nature Communications , combines the university's expertise from chemistry, structural biology and transfusion medicine to reveal how a normally harmless protein in the blood can become the target of harmful antibodies, a discovery that could pave the way for improved diagnostic tests and future therapies.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in