RECURRENT VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN HYPOPLASIA OF THE INFERIOR VENA-CAVA AND FACTOR-XII DEFICIENCY

The cause of recurrent pelvic and leg venous thromboses in a 24-year-o ld man was found to be a combination of two rare anomalies, hypoplasia of the hepatic, prerenal segment of the inferior vena cava and factor XII deficiency (factor XII activity 38%, its antigen 39% of normal), the latter considered a risk factor for thromboembolism. Subsequent fi brinolysis was not successful. No thromboembolic phenomena occurred du ring the following 16 months of oral anticoagulation with phenprocoumo n. When this treatment was discontinued at the patient's behest, there was a recurrence on the contralateral side. Anticoagulation was resum ed and has continued now for 1 1/2 years without recurrence. The patie nt has been largely free of symptoms. Permanent anticoagulation thus s eems unavoidable in this case.