Thrombophilia
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 tablets or have an injection of heparin.
Warfarin and heparin
Warfarin and heparin are anticoagulants (anti-clotting medicine). They interfere with the clotting process and are commonly used to treat or prevent DVT and pulmonary embolisms.
If you need an anticoagulant to prevent a clot, you'll be prescribed warfarin. It will take a few days to work properly.
If you need instant treatment for an existing clot, you'll usually be given a heparin injection (which works straight away), as well as warfarin tablets for the first few days. The injection will either be given in hospital or at home.
A heparin injection may also be given to people with antiphospholipid syndrome , before and after surgery or during pregnancy. Unlike warfarin, heparin is safe to take in pregnancy.
International Normalised Ratio (INR) test
Your doctor will need to adjust your warfarin dose so your blood doesn't clot easily, but isn't too high to put you at risk of bleeding problems.
You'll need to have a regular blood test called the International Normalised Ratio (INR) to measure your blood clotting ability while taking warfarin.
You'll have the INR test less frequently once your ideal dose has been reached (an INR of two to three is usually the aim).
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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