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thrombophilia
'thrombo' = thrombosis + 'philia' - love
tendency for thrombosis/thromboembolism (see hypercoagulability)
Etiology:
- defect in the coagulation system
- thrombomodulin defect
Epidemiology:
- 5-8% of the US population
- acquired thrombophilia much more common than inherited thrombophilia [3]
Pathology:
- most individuals develop thrombosis only with additional risk factors
- acquired thrombophilia often associated with much greater risk of thrombosis than inherited thrombophilia [3]
Genetics:
- may have 1st degree relative with thrombophilia
Clinical manifestations:
- unprovoked venous thromboembolism
- thromboembolism while on oral contraceptives or while pregnant
- arterial thrombi
Laboratory:
- see hypercoagulability
- testing not indicated in the setting of surgery, trauma, or prolonged immobility [5]
- most patients with venous thromboembolism do not require thrombophilia testing, since results will not affect management [7]
- serum homocysteine + antiphospholipid antibodies only for arterial thrombi [3]
- testing of family members indicated if coagulation defect identified
- see ARUP consult [4]
Management:
- generally no treatment indicated
- anticoagulation if recurrent thromboses
Specific
thrombophilia due to histidine-rich glycoprotein deficiency
thrombophilia due to thrombomodulin defect
General
hypercoagulability
References
- Wikipedia: Thrombophilia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombophilia
- Lijfering WM et al.
Selective testing for thrombophilia in patients with first
venous thrombosis: Results from a retrospective family cohort
study on absolute thrombotic risk for currently known
thrombophilic defects in 2479 relatives.
Blood 2009 May 21; 113:5314.
PMID: 19139080
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 14,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2006
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 19
Board Basics. An Enhancement to MKSAP19.
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2022
- ARUP Consult: Hypercoagulable States - Thrombophilia
The Physician's Guide to Laboratory Test Selection & Interpretation
https://www.arupconsult.com/content/hypercoagulable-states
- Hicks LK et al.
The ASH Choosing Wisely Campaign: Five hematologic tests and
treatments to question.
Blood 2013 Dec 5; 122:3879.
PMID: 24319155
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/122/24/3879
- Baglin T, Gray E, Greaves M et al
Clinical guidelines for testing for heritable thrombophilia.
Br J Haematol. 2010 Apr;149(2):209-20
PMID: 20128794
- Connors JM
Thrombophilia Testing and Venous Thrombosis.
N Engl J Med 2017; 377:1177-1187. September 21, 2017
PMID: 28930509
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1700365