Hypercoagulable Disorders
Overview | Activation Problems | Regulation Problems | Breakdown Problems | Other Factors | Laboratory Tests | Treatment | Related Pages
Other factors associated with an increased risk of inappropriate blood clot formation:
- Venous stasis – also known as “coach-class” syndrome, this describes any situation that immobilizes someone for long periods of time, such as cramped seating during travel or prolonged bed rest with an illness or after surgery. Immobility may lead to slow or restricted blood flow (venous stasis) and an increased risk of developing a blood clot especially in the deep veins of the legs (DVT).
- Elevated levels of homocysteine increase the risk of a heart attack.
- Heart Failure -- may cause slowing of blood flow (stasis)
- Obesity
- Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
- Pregnancy
- Surgery -- allows the exposure of blood to tissue factor
- Atrial fibrillation (rapid, uneven heartbeat) -- associated with an increase risk of stroke
- Cancer – Cancers or malignancies such as leukemia may cause hypercoagulable states for a variety of reasons. 1) Tumor growth may cause external compression on a blood vessel, or, in some cases, actually extend into the vasculature (for example, renal cell cancers extending into the renal veins). 2)Treatments for cancer (radiation, chemotherapy) may leave patients more susceptible to hypercoagulation.
