Merck Manual

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Excessive Clotting

(Thrombophilia)

By

Michael B. Streiff

, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2023 | Modified Nov 2023
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Excessive clotting (thrombophilia) occurs when the blood clots too easily or excessively.

  • Inherited and acquired disorders can increase blood clotting.

  • Clots in larger blood vessels cause legs or arms to swell.

  • Blood levels of proteins that control clotting are measured.

  • People may need to be treated with anticoagulants.

Most disorders that cause thrombophilia increase the risk of blood clot formation in veins. A few increase the risk of clot formation in both arteries and veins.

Causes of Excessive Clotting

Some of the disorders that cause thrombophilia are inherited. Many of these result from changes in the amount or function of certain proteins in the blood that control clotting. For example:

Other disorders that cause thrombophilia are acquired after birth. These disorders include disseminated intravascular coagulation Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a condition in which small blood clots develop throughout the bloodstream, blocking small blood vessels. The increased clotting depletes the platelets... read more (often occurring in people with cancer), and antiphospholipid syndrome Antiphospholipid Syndrome Autoimmune disorders, including Graves disease, are more common among women, particularly pregnant women. The abnormal antibodies produced in autoimmune disorders can cross the placenta and... read more (sometimes occurring in people with systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can involve joints, kidneys, skin, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. Problems in the... read more Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) ), which increase the risk of clotting because of overactivation of blood clotting factors. Hyperhomocysteinemia (an abnormal elevation of homocysteine, most often caused by deficiencies of vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 Deficiency Vitamin B6 is in most foods, but people can have vitamin B6 deficiency if they do not absorb it properly. Many foods contain vitamin B6, but extensive processing can remove the vitamin. People... read more , vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in vegans who do not take supplements or as a result of an absorption disorder. Anemia develops, causing paleness, weakness, fatigue, and, if severe, shortness... read more , or folate Folate Deficiency Folate deficiency is common. Because the body stores only a small amount of folate, a diet lacking in folate leads to a deficiency within a few months. Not eating enough raw leafy vegetables... read more ) is a possible cause of thrombophilia.

Other factors may increase the risk of clotting along with thrombophilia. Many involve conditions that result in a person's not moving around sufficiently, causing blood to pool in the veins. Examples are paralysis, prolonged sitting (especially in confined spaces as in a car or airplane), prolonged bed rest, recent surgery, and heart attack Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina) Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or a heart attack (myocardial infarction), depending on the location and amount... read more Acute Coronary Syndromes (Heart Attack; Myocardial Infarction; Unstable Angina) . Heart failure Heart Failure (HF) Heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to keep up with the demands of the body, leading to reduced blood flow, back-up (congestion) of blood in the veins and lungs, and/or... read more Heart Failure (HF) , a condition in which the blood is not pumped sufficiently through the bloodstream, is a risk factor. Conditions that result in increased pressure on veins in the legs, including obesity and pregnancy, also increase risk.

Symptoms of Excessive Clotting

Most of the inherited disorders do not begin to cause an increased risk of clotting until young adulthood, although clots can form at any age.

Diagnosis of Excessive Clotting

  • Blood tests to identify the specific cause of the blood clots

  • Testing to identify the location of the blood clots

A person who has had at least two separate instances of a blood clot without an apparent predisposing factor may have an inherited disorder that causes thrombophilia. An inherited disorder may also be suspected if a person with an initial blood clot has a family history of blood clots. A young healthy person who develops an initial clot for no apparent reason may have an inherited disorder.

Blood tests that measure the amount or activity of different proteins that control clotting are used to identify specific inherited disorders that cause thrombophilia.

Treatment of Excessive Clotting

  • Anticoagulants

People who suddenly develop a blood clot are treated with anticoagulants. Doctors give heparin by vein for a few days and then switch to warfarin by mouth for several months, depending upon the person's existing medical problems. Pregnant women are given only heparin, because warfarin can cause birth defects or severe bleeding in the newborn. People who take warfarin require frequent blood clotting testing and may need their dose adjusted to be sure the level of anticoagulation is right.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), medications that do not require frequent blood clotting tests, are effective alternatives to oral warfarin. DOACs include dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban.

People who have had two or more clots are especially likely to be advised to take an anticoagulant such as warfarin or a DOAC for the rest of their lives.

The inherited disorders that cause thrombophilia cannot be cured. Hyperhomocysteinemia is treated with supplements of deficient vitamins, but there is no clear evidence that treatment reduces the risk of clotting.

Other treatment depends on the location of the blood clot.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Hepflush-10 , Hep-Lock, Hep-Lock U/P, Monoject Prefill Advanced Heparin Lock Flush, SASH Normal Saline and Heparin
Coumadin, Jantoven
Pradaxa
Xarelto, Xarelto Granules, Xarelto Starter Pack
Eliquis
Savaysa
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