Which statement about anticoagulants is true?

Which statement about anticoagulants is true?

• A. They dissolve clots rapidly
• B. They prevent clot formation but do not dissolve clots that have already formed
• C. They have no effect on clots
• D. They cause clots to form

Answer: (B)

Anticoagulants work by inhibiting the coagulation cascade, which prevents new clots from forming and stops the growth of existing clots. They do not have fibrinolytic activity, so they don’t actively dissolve clots that are already formed; instead, the body’s own fibrinolysis gradually breaks down clots while the anticoagulant prevents further extension and embolization. Dissolving clots rapidly is the job of thrombolytics, not anticoagulants. So the statement that best describes anticoagulants is that they prevent clot formation but do not dissolve clots that have already formed.