Thrombophilia

Thrombophilias are a group of disorders that increase a person’s tendency to form blood clots. Individuals with a thrombophilia tend to form blood clots too easily, because their bodies make:

• Too much of certain proteins, called blood clotting factors
  OR
• Too little of anti-clotting proteins that limit clot formation

A thrombophilia can be inherited or acquired later in life. About 15% of people in the United States have an inherited thrombophilia . Acquired thrombophilias are less common. Thrombophilias are known to cause increased risk in pregnancy.

The most common inherited thrombophilias include: 

• Factor V Leiden mutation
• Prothrombin G20210 mutation 
• Anti-thrombin III mutation 
• Protein C or S deficiency

If you have a history of a blood clot in a place it does not belong (i.e. leg, lung, heart) or if you have a relative with a history of a blood clot, the doctors at RPG may want to test you for the many different inherited and/or acquired thrombophilias.

Patients with thrombophilia may be at increased risk for complications in pregnancy (including development of blood clots, fetal growth restriction, and stillbirth). Most patients with thrombophilia will need to take some form of a blood thinner during pregnancy (Such as heparin or low molecular weight heparin [Lovenox™, Fragmin™]). Also, pregnant women with thrombophilia need to have frequent ultrasounds to evaluate fetal growth and well being. Your doctor at RPG will work with you to individualize your treatment plan if you are pregnant and have a thrombophilia.