[Thrombophilic states]

Abstract

Thrombophilia is defined as an increased tendency to thrombosis and can be inherited or acquired. The thrombotic events in patients with inherited thrombophilia tend to occur at a young age, are often idiopathic, recurrent and may occur at unusual sites (e.g. mesenteric, portal and cerebral veins and in inferior vena cava). The most common of the hereditary defects appear to be antithrombin, protein C, protein S deficiency, which account for 10% of individuals presenting with venous thromboembolism, resistance to anticoagulant effect of activated protein C (APC-R), which is present in 17 to 64% of patients with thrombosis and prothrombin 20210 G-->A variant with 6% prevalence in patients with thrombosis. APC-R is due in 90% to the presence of factor V Leiden. Rarer defects include heparin cofactor II (HC II), plasminogen or tissue plasminogen activator deficiency (TPA), elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and dysfibrinogenemia. The most common acquired defects are antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies). Hyperhemocystinemia is responsible as well for arterial as venous thrombosis. A substantial proportion of venous thrombotic events occurs spontaneously, i.e. without a precipitating event. Risk factors for thrombosis include surgery, trauma, immobility, congestive heart failure, pregnancy including puerperium and oral contraceptive usage. The thrombotic risk is increased in patients who are homozygous for factor V Leiden and markedly increased in patients with combined defects.