DVT

Venous thromboembolism: risk factors

Common predisposing factors include malignancy, pregnancy and the period following an operation. The comprehensive list below is partly based on the 2010 SIGN venous thromboembolism (VTE) guidelines:

General

• increased risk with advancing age
• obesity
• family history of VTE
• pregnancy (especially puerperium)
• immobility
• hospitalisation
• anaesthesia
• central venous catheter: femoral >> subclavian

Underlying conditions

• malignancy
• thrombophilia: e.g. Activated protein C resistance, protein C and S deficiency
• heart failure
• antiphospholipid syndrome
• Behcet's
• polycythaemia
• nephrotic syndrome