A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Category: Diagnosis

  • Difficulty in Diagnosing Recurrent DVT – Clinical Guidance

    Stephan Moll, MD writes….  Recurrent DVT can be challenging to diagnose, as it may be difficult on Doppler ultrasound to tell chronic changes from additional new clot.  A guidance statement from the ISTH (International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis) published this week (May 18th, 2013) provides solid, clinically useful, evidence-based recommendations

  • Thrombophilia and Insurance

    Liz Varga, Certified Genetic Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus OH writes…. Some people may have concerns about genetic testing for clotting disorders (thrombophilias) for fear of genetic discrimination.  Fortunately in the United States, we have laws in place that can alleviate this concern.

  • Chronic Lung Damage after PE – Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

    Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism, PE) often completely dissolve within a few weeks or months and a patient’s symptoms of shortness and breath and chest pain disappear.  Many people return to their normal self and have no physical limitations thereafter. Other people have some residual symptoms of shortness of breath or chest discomfort,…

  • PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale)

    A discussion of PFO and paradoxical embolism, written for patients, is available on the Clot Connect Patient blog- connect here.  The health care professional can refer his/her patient to the information on PFO in that blog . The blog also contains images suitable for patients to understand the etiology of  paradoxical embolism:

  • PFO = Patent Foramen Ovale

    Anatomy Some people have a “hole in the heart”, called a “patent foramen ovale” (PFO). This is a connection between the right and the left chamber (atrium) of the heart. We are all born with it – the unborn needs this connection for proper blood circulation. In most people the hole closes in the first…

  • Family Member Testing for Thrombophilia

    Background If a thrombophilia (clotting disorder) has been identified in a patient with blood clots (venous thromboembolism = VTE), the question arises whether other family members should be tested for the same thrombophilia. My Clinical Approach My approach in clinical practice to thrombophilia testing in family members is summarized in table 1:  Testing of Family Members.