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Protein C Deficiency
What is Protein C? Protein C is a protein in our blood stream, which prevents blood from clotting too much. It’s a sort of police protein that keeps our clotting in check. If protein C levels are low, a person will have a tendency to clot more easily. Elevated levels of protein C, on the…
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Pregnancy Loss and Thrombophilia
How common is pregnancy loss? What are the causes? Pregnancy loss in the general population is common. Most losses occur in the first trimester. As many as 5 % of women have 2 or more early losses; 1-2 % have 3 or more early losses [ref 1]. Well established risk factors for pregnancy loss are:…
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Pregnancy Loss and Clotting Disorders
How common is pregnancy loss? What are the causes? Pregnancy loss (= miscarriage) in the general population is common. Most losses occur in the first trimester. As many as 5 % of women have 2 or more early losses; 1-2 % have 3 or more early losses [ref 1]. Well established risk factors for pregnancy…
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Sinus and Cerebral Vein Thrombosis
Summary Sinus and cerebral vein clots are uncommon. They can lead to severe headaches, confusion, and stroke-like symptoms. They may lead to bleeding into the surrounding brain tissues. The clot can be triggered by infections of the ear, face, or neck, by estrogen use and pregnancy, and can be caused by inherited and acquired clotting…
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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: Family Member Testing. If the patient
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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.
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Unexplained Arterial Thrombosis – Causes, Thrombophilia Testing
Causes The 2 main causes of arterial thromboembolism are certainly arteriosclerosis and atrial fibriallation. Only uncommonly do arterial clots occur in persons less than 40 or 50 years of age who do not have arteriosclerosis or atrial fibrillation. Under these circumstances, a number of uncommon conditions, including thrombophilias, should be considered and investigated (see table 1: Causes and work-up).
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Thrombophilia Testing – Who Should be Tested?
Background and Consensus Guidelines No general consensus exists as to which patients with blood clots and which family members should be tested for thrombophilias. At least five guidelines or consensus statements exist (ref 1-5). They vary markedly in their recommendations as to who should be tested and who not,
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
Clot Connect 