WHICH CLINICAL OUTCOME AFTER DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND OR PULMONARY-EMBOLISM/

The lack of knowledge of the origin of venous thrombosis (VT) causes f rustration and distress to the clinician. Some results published in th e literature suggest a lot of potential aetiologies. Anyhow, we are fa r from getting a proof that a systematic and exhaustive search for a p otential cause, for instance impairment of blood coagulation or infrac linical cancer, could be of benefit for the patient and could present a good cost/efficacy ratio. Consensus recommendations limit the extent of blood coagulation studies only to some precise clinical situations . New biological data evidencing a resistance to activated C protein i n 20 to 50 per cent of VT cases, will likely bring new rules. As far a s infraclinical cancers are concerned and whether their relationship t o idiopathic VT is well-established, it is still doubtful that such sy stematic heavy and expensive checking up could be of any benefit.