Inherited thrombophilic risk factors in a large cohort of individuals referred to Italian thrombophilla centers: distinct roles in different clinicalsettings

Background and Objectives, Despite inherited thrombophilic risk factors bei ng strongly associated with vein thrombosis, decisions on whether to screen subjects for these factors vary in different clinical settings. Design and Methods. We calculated the prevalence of inherited thrombophilic risk factors in a large cohort of patients (n = 1,238) with different clin ical manifestations of vein thromboembolism. In the present cohort, screeni ng for inherited thrombophilia was worthwhile among patients who developed vein thrombosis of the leg or cerebral vein thrombosis. Carriers of FV Leid en or FII A(20210) mutation more frequently had had deep vein thrombosis of the leg (OR: 4.35; 95% CI: 3.39-5.60), superficial vein thrombosis (OR: 3. 34; 95% CI: 2.06-5.41), or cerebral vein thrombosis (OR: 2.77; 95% CI: 1.10 -6,96), Results. The screening program appeared to have a limited relevance in pati ents with isolated pulmonary embolism (OR: 2.13; 95%, CI: 1.28-3.54), or me senteric vein thrombosis (OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.22-3.44). Interpretation and Conclusions, The lack of association with inherited thro mbophilia does not justify routine screening of patients with thrombosis of the upper extremities or with retinal vein thrombosis, (C) 2001, Ferrata S torti Foundation.