A patient with a genetic mutation has normal levels of prothrombin but their blood clots slowly. Which mechanism explains this phenomenon in hemostasis?

💡 Explanation

The delayed clotting suggests a problem in the later stages of the coagulation cascade, because prothrombin converts to thrombin, which then converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Therefore, an impaired thrombin-to-fibrin conversion explains the slow clotting, rather than issues with platelet aggregation or initial activation factors.

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