Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Support Group
Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT, is the formation of a blood clot ("thrombus") in a deep vein. It can be caused by something preventing blood from circulating or clotting normally. Join the support group if you are coping with DVT and find others who are going through the same challenges.
I asked my GP if I should have a Factor 8 test and she said that because my DVT was the result of a long time in bed after surgery, I probably didn\'t need it.
Thoughts?
Now I want to know what those 19 vials of blood were they drew one morning in the hospital???
Thoughts?
Now I want to know what those 19 vials of blood were they drew one morning in the hospital???
-Factor 5 (or V)Leiden
-Protein C
-Protein S
-Antiphospholipid Syndrome or Lupus Anticoagulant
-Antithrombin deficiency aka, ATIII
-May-Thurner syndrome
-Paget-Schrtter disease AKA as Upper Extremities DVT. (UEDVT)
-factor II mutation
-D-dimer
-
OK, I'm missing some. 19 vials???? I don't remember that many when I was diagnosed...What I remember was calling the nurse a vampire, for taking a lot, but 19...
There really were 19 vials, but I got blood drawn every single morning after I had surgery for a brain abscess, checking for inflammation, signs of infection, liver and kidney function, blah blah. But the tech who drew the 19 vials, obviously after my DVT, thought they were testing for Factor 8. But neither my GP nor the neurosurgeon or infection control specialist know anything about it!
Question is, do I need it?
Standard tests:
- Factor V Leiden genetic test
- Prothrombin 20210 mutation genetic test
- protein C activity
- protein S activity and total and free
- protein S antigen
- antithrombin III activity
- antiphospholipid antibodies, consisting of:
- lupus anticoagulant
- anticardiolipin IgG and IgM antibodies
- homocysteine level
- full blood count (with hemoglobin and platelet count)
If there is a strong family history of DVT or PE, also obtain:
- thrombin clot time
- fibrinogen activity
- fibrinogen immunoelectrophoresis
- plasminogen activity
If there is an unusual venous clot, such as Budd-Chiari-syndrome, or mesenteric or portal vein thrombosis, also obtain:
- CD55/59 flow cytometry for PNH (= paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria)
- Bone marrow biopsy and cytogenetics to look for myeloproliferative disorder)
Not infrequently also obtain the following tests, to more completely understand why a patient clotted:
- fibrinogen activity
- factor VIII activity level
- factor IX activity
- factor XI activity
Nine tubes of blood are normally all that is needed when doing a thrombophilia screening. However, if something more is suspected the number quickly increases based on family history (or if the physician is a tad bit aggresively proactive, which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
Regards,
Tom in Connecticut
I knew I was missing a few.
Thanks Tom.