Thrombophilia
Diagnosing thrombophilia
Thrombophilia testing isn't routinely carried out on everyone who has a blood clot.
Testing for inherited thrombophilia in people with venous thrombosis isn't usually needed because the results don't usually influence clinical decisions.
For example, decisions regarding the length of treatment should be made by taking into consideration whether or not venous thrombosis was provoked, whether other risk factors are present, and the risk of bleeding due to treatment with anticoagulants, regardless of whether inherited thrombophilia is present or not.
Thrombophilia is diagnosed by having blood tests weeks or months after your blood clot. The tests look for anticoagulant deficiencies. Before having the tests, you'll usually have to wait until you've stopped taking anticoagulant medicine, such as warfarin , for four to six weeks.
If the blood test results indicate you have thrombophilia, you may be referred to a haematologist (a specialist in diagnosing and treating blood disorders).
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Thrombophilia is where the blood has an increased tendency to form clots.
The blood clotting process
When you cut yourself, the bleeding usually triggers a number of chemical reactions in the blood. The chemical reactions cause a blood clot to form, which sticks to the injured part of the blood ves
Types ofthrombophilia
There are many different types of thrombophilia. Some of the main types are outlined below. Factor V Leiden Factor V Leiden is a type of thrombophilia caused by a specific gene mutation. It's the m
Symptoms of thrombophilia
Thrombophilia is often mild and many people don't experience any health problems. Symptoms will only occur if the disorder causes a blood clot. People with thrombophilia are particularly at risk of d
Diagnosing thrombophilia
Thrombophilia testing isn't routinely carried out on everyone who has a blood clot. Testing for inherited thrombophilia in people with venous thrombosis isn't usually needed because the results don't
Treating thrombophilia
Treatment may not be needed if you have mild thrombophilia. If you develop a blood clot, you'll need treatment for the blood clot and treatment to prevent further clots. You may need to take warfarin
Lifestyle advice
If you have thrombophilia, it's important you're aware of the symptoms of a blood clot (see above), and that you see your GP immediately if you think you have one. You should also take the following
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