Hyperhomocysteinemia and venous thromboembolism: a risk factor more prevalent in the elderly and in idiopathic cases.

Fasting plasma homocysteine level and the related clinical findings were analysed in 240 consecutive patients with venous thromboembolism. Hyperhomocysteinemia, defined as a plasma level above 20 micromol/l (corresponding to the percentile 95th in the controls), was present in 11.2% of the patients.

The prothrombin gene G20210A variant in an unselected thromboembolic population. A Belgian prospective clinical study.

The presence of the 20210A allele of the prothrombin gene has recently been shown to be a risk factor of venous thromboembolism, probably mediated through increased prothrombin levels. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the prothrombin 20210A allele in 193 consecutive unselected patients with venous thromboembolism and 100 healthy controls and to analyze the clinical profile associated with this new inherited thrombophilic factor. In agreement with previous reports, we found a frequency of 7.

Prevalence of activated protein C resistance and analysis of clinical profile in thromboembolic patients. A Belgian prospective study.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of activated protein C resistance (APC-R) among healthy subjects and thromboembolic patients and to determine the clinical characteristics associated with APC-R.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: One academic medical centre.

Acquired activated protein C resistance in pregnancy.

Pregnancy induces several haemostatic perturbations. Some authors described possible acquired activated protein C resistance (APCR) during normal pregnancy. We wanted to test this possibility and to evaluate if this acquired APCR might contribute to the known increased tendency to thrombosis associated with pregnancy.