Historical Perspective: A “Quick” Narrative of a Blood Coagulation Trailblazer

Physicians know Dr Armand Quick as the “Father of Blood Coagulation.” His discovery of prothrombin time enabled clinicians to understand the use of vitamin K to prevent “hemorrhagic disease of the newborn” and to identify hereditary and acquired bleeding disorders in pediatric and adult patients. Quick suggested 50 years ago that aspirin could prevent myocardial infarction and stroke, a concept that perseveres today. His lifetime of research on bleeding and anticoagulants created this discipline in modern hematology.