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Thrombosis prophylaxis in patient populations with a central venous catheter: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are used in a wide variety of patients. Associated complications are thrombosis and infection. It is a matter of debate whether thromboprophylaxis is beneficial. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of 3 different patient populations to render the available information in the literature more accessible to clinical practice: patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN), patients with cancer, and patients admitted to intensive care units. RESULTS: Prophylaxis with heparin added to PN was found to give a nonsignificant reduction in the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis (pooled relative risk of randomized studies, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-5.48). In cancer patients, both low-dose warfarin and low-molecular-weight heparin significantly reduced the incidence of catheter-related thrombosis (relative risk of randomized studies, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.09-0.70] and 0.10 [95% CI, 0.01-0.71], respectively). So far, intensive care patients have hardly been studied with respect to thromboprophylaxis and the incidence of CVC thrombosis. Any effect of the type of catheter could not be established because of small numbers. There was no apparent increase in bleeding events with prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with CVCs. CONCLUSIONS: In the small number of patients studied, the addition of heparin to PN did not significantly decrease the risk of catheter-related thrombosis, whereas warfarin and dalteparin did decrease the thrombosis risk in cancer patients with CVCs. There is no apparent increase in bleeding events with prophylactic anticoagulants in patients with CVCs.

Anticoagulants↗

Development of thrombosis models in the rabbit.

OBJECTIVE: In an effort to decrease the probability of thrombosis at microvascular anastomotic sites, researchers have examined techniques for decreasing the probability of thrombus formation at these sites. Identification of an appropriate animal model that is relatively easy to perform, reliable, and reproducible was attempted in this study. The goal of this study is to provide other investigators with a comparison and critical appraisal of various thrombosis models allowing a more directed selection of models for their own research. DESIGN: A prospective, nonblinded animal study was designed that compared features of thrombosis models previously described in the literature with each other and with a new model (the "tuck" model), herein described. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ease of dissection, time to thrombosis, and other technical details were recorded. Additionally, validation of clot histologic features in the tuck model was performed. RESULTS: The inversion graft models were found to be the most highly predictable and reliably thrombogenic, although technically quite difficult. The tuck model produces clot analogous to that produced clinically and is easy to perform, although a predictable number of vessels will not thrombose. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study comparing various animal models of anastomotic thrombosis suggests that the tuck model is the model of choice for most thrombus prevention studies. When predictability of thrombosis is a critical factor, the inversion graft model should be chosen.

Animals↗

Acute arterial thrombosis of the lower extremity. Its natural history contrasted with arterial embolism.

We compared a group of 52 patients with acute lower extremity ischemia secondary to arterial thrombosis with a series of 220 patients with peripheral embolism who were seen at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, from 1967 through 1980. The conditions of patients with arterial thrombosis were misdiagnosed as acute embolism at a rate of 20%. Mortality in the patients with embolism was significantly higher. While patients with acute embolism were routinely treated with embolectomy, two thirds of the patients with thrombotic occlusion required surgery during their initial hospitalization for ongoing severe ischemia. More than half of these operations were carried out as emergency procedures. Limb salvage in surgically treated patients with arterial thrombosis was inferior to that seen with embolism. Early revascularization for acute thrombosis was carried out with a 30-day patency rate of 82%. While the mortality associated with acute thrombosis was significantly lower than that seen with peripheral embolism, the risk of major amputation was 35%. There should be no reluctance to proceed with indicated vascular reconstruction in the setting of acute limb ischemia secondary to arterial thrombosis.

Acute Disease↗

Effect of leptin on arterial thrombosis following vascular injury in mice.

CONTEXT: Complications of atherosclerosis are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized societies. Obesity has emerged as an independent risk factor for complications of atherosclerotic vascular disease. Leptin, a hormone produced by the adipocyte, increases with obesity and appears to modulate energy balance and food intake. In addition, other actions of leptin have been proposed, including an in vitro effect on platelet aggregation. Thus, the elevated plasma leptin levels in obese individuals may promote vascular thrombosis. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that leptin contributes to in vivo thrombosis via the leptin receptor. DESIGN AND MATERIALS: Between September 2000 and September 2001, a vascular thrombosis model was used to test male 10- to 12-week-old mice completely deficient in leptin or the leptin receptor and mice with platelet leptin-receptor deficiency. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Time to formation of an occlusive thrombus in the common carotid artery following experimentally induced endothelial injury. RESULTS: Following onset of vascular injury, wild-type mice (n = 8) formed occlusive thrombosis in a mean (SD) of 42.2 (4.6) minutes, whereas leptin-deficient (n = 5) and leptin receptor-deficient mice (n = 7) formed occlusive thrombosis in 75.2 (10.1) and 68.6 (10.3) minutes, respectively (leptin deficient vs wild-type mice, P =.008; leptin-receptor-deficient vs wild-type, P =.03). When recombinant murine leptin was administered to leptin-deficient mice (n = 4), the time to occlusion was reduced to 41.8 (6.6) minutes (P =.035 vs vehicle control). Following bone marrow transplantation from leptin receptor-deficient (donor) mice to wild-type (recipient) mice, the time to occlusion was prolonged from 22.3 (2.8) minutes in wild-type mice receiving wild-type marrow (n = 3) to 56.8 (5.0) minutes in wild-type mice receiving leptin receptor-deficient bone marrow (n = 5) (P =.003). CONCLUSIONS: Leptin contributes to arterial thrombosis following vascular injury in vivo and these prothrombotic effects appear to be mediated through the platelet leptin receptor.

Animals↗

Resistance to activated protein C in unselected patients with arterial and venous thrombosis.

Four hundred and ninety-three consecutive patients referred for arterial or venous thrombosis were screened for congenital and acquired abnormalities of blood coagulation predisposing to thrombosis, and were compared to 341 age- and sex-matched controls. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of resistance to activated protein C (APC), a defect shown to have different prevalences in different ethnic groups and to be associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. Seventy-three (15%) patients had both APC resistance and the 1691 G to A factor V gene mutation, compared to 6/341 (2%) controls. Seven patients had antithrombin deficiency (1.4%), 11 had protein C deficiency (2.2%), and 4 had protein S deficiency (0.8%). The relative risk of thrombosis in APC-resistant patients was 9.4. Resistance to APC was associated mainly with venous thrombosis, the most frequent being deep-vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. Fifty-eight percent of APC-resistant patients had an associated risk factor at the first thrombotic event: pregnancy and oral contraceptive intake were associated with the first thrombotic episode in 35% and 30% of women, respectively. APC resistance is the most frequent defect of blood coagulation in the general population and in the unselected thrombotic population studied by us.

Adult↗

Stent thrombosis: incidence and related factors in the R.I.S.E. Registry(Registro Impianto Stent Endocoronarico)

Although stent thrombosis has been greatly reduced by adequate stent expansion with high-pressure balloon inflations and by the use of antiplatelet drugs, this event is still frightening, as it may lead to acute myocardial ischemia resulting in acute myocardial infarction or sudden death. Therefore, the definition of factors associated with stent thrombosis may provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and may permit us to define therapeutic strategies to further reduce its occurrence. The purpose of this study was to assess factors responsible for the occurrence of stent thrombosis after coronary stent implantation in 939 consecutive patients enrolled in the Registro Impianto Stent Endocoronarico (R.I.S.E. Study Group). Consecutive patients undergoing coronary stent implantation at 16 medical centers in Italy were prospectively enrolled in the registry. Clinical data, and qualitative and quantitative angiographic findings were obtained from data collected in case report forms at each investigator site. The study group consisted of 781 men and 158 women with a mean age of 59 yr: 1,392 stents were implanted in 1,006 lesions and expanded at a maximal inflation pressure of 14.7 +/- 3 atm. The great majority of patients (92%) received only antiplatelet drugs after coronary stenting. During hospitalization there were 45 major ischemic complications in 39 patients (4.2%): 13 events were related to acute or subacute thrombosis (1.4%). Another stent thrombotic event occurred in the first month of follow-up. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, stent thrombosis was related to the following factors: unplanned stenting (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.65-7.23), unstable angina (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.11-10.14) and maximal inflation pressure (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.93). In conclusion, this registry shows that in an unselected population of patients undergoing coronary stenting, stent thrombosis occurs in less than 2% of patients and is significantly related to unplanned stent implantation, unstable angina, and maximal inflation pressure. The incidence of this phenomenon is likely to be further reduced by the use of new potent antiplatelet drugs, such as platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists.

Adult↗

Hickman catheter-induced thoracic vein thrombosis. Frequency and long-term sequelae in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and marrow transplantation.

One hundred sixty-eight bone marrow transplant recipients and 49 patients who received high-dose chemotherapy were evaluated for symptomatic thrombosis after Hickman catheter placement. The timing of thrombotic complications was different between these two groups, with the transplant group having a significantly lower thrombus-free survival by 28 days after catheter placement. By 100 days after placement the thrombus-free survival rates of the two groups were similar. The platelet count at time of catheter placement was significantly lower in the nontransplant group, and the thrombus-free survival was longer in patients whose catheter was placed when their platelet count was less than 150,000, suggesting that thrombocytopenia delays thrombotic complications. Placement of two Hickman catheters resulted in a 12.9% thrombosis rate (21 of 162 patients) and was significantly more likely to be associated with thrombosis than placement of one catheter. Long-term follow-up evaluation of patients treated without successful fibrinolytic therapy showed no residual symptoms of venous obstruction. In those patients presenting with concomitant catheter obstruction resulting from thrombosis, low-dose fibrinolytic therapy was successful in restoring catheter function 70% of the time. Placement of two Hickman catheters is associated with an inordinate incidence of thrombosis. Thrombocytopenia at the time of catheter placement may delay this complication. Thrombotic catheter obstruction can be treated successfully with low-dose fibrinolytic therapy. Even without fibrinolytic therapy, catheter-induced subclavian vein thrombosis rarely causes long-term disability.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Thrombosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: congenital and acquired risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the thrombotic tendency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by evaluating congenital or acquired abnormalities associated with an increased risk of venous and/or arterial thrombosis. METHODS: A total of 57 patients with SLE were included in the study. Twenty-one patients (37%) had a history of arterial and/or venous thrombosis and 36 patients (63%) did not have such a history. Sera from 50 healthy controls were examined. Protein C, protein S, antithrombin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, homocysteine, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), lupus anticoagulant (LAC), prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene mutation were evaluated. RESULTS: Protein C, antithrombin, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with SLE than in controls. A prothrombin mutation was observed in 2 (4%) of 50 controls and in 6 (11%) of 57 patients. A significantly higher prevalence (P = 0.036) of MTHFR homozygous mutation was observed in patients with SLE (14 [25%] of 57) in comparison with controls (4 [8%] of 50). IgG-aCL and IgM-aCL levels were significantly higher in patients with SLE than in controls (P < 0.0001). The presence of medium-high (> or = 20 IgG phospholipid units/ml) IgG-aCL antibody titers was significantly higher (P = 0.005) in patients with thrombosis (11 [52%] of 21) than in patients without (5 [14%] of 36) thrombosis. LAC was present in 22 (38.5%) of 57 patients and in none of 50 controls. CONCLUSION: In this study, we confirm the association between thrombosis and IgG-aCL at medium-high titers and suggest that the coexistence of other risk factors can affect the expression of thrombosis in patients with SLE.

Adolescent↗

Tissue factor upregulation drives a thrombosis-inflammation circuit in relation to cardiovascular complications.

The extrinsic coagulation is recognized as an 'inducible' signalling cascade resulting from tissue factor (TF) upregulation by exposure to clotting zymogen FVII upon inflammation or tissue injury. Following the substantial initiation, an array of proteolytic activation generates mediating signals (active serine proteases: FVIIa, FXa and FIIa) that lead to hypercoagulation with fibrin overproduction manifesting thrombosis. In addition, TF upregulation plays a central role in driving a thrombosis-inflammation circuit. Coagulant mediators (FVIIa, FXa and FIIa) and endproduct (fibrin) are proinflammatory, eliciting tissue necrosis factor, interleukins, adhesion molecules and many other intracellular signals in different cell types. Such resulting inflammation could ensure 'fibrin' thrombosis via feedback upregulation of TF. Alternatively, the resulting inflammation triggers platelet/leukocyte/polymononuclear cell activation thus contributing to 'cellular' thrombosis. TF is very vulnerable to upregulation resulting in hypercoagulability and subsequent thrombosis and inflammation, either of which presents cardiovascular risks. The prevention and intervention of TF hypercoagulability are of importance in cardioprotection. Blockade of inflammation reception and its intracellular signalling prevents TF expression from upregulation. Natural (activated protein C, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, or antithrombin III) or pharmacological anticoagulants readily offset the extrinsic hypercoagulation mainly through FVIIa, FXa or FIIa inhibition. Therefore, anticoagulants turn off the thrombosis-inflammation circuit, offering not only antithrombotic but anti-inflammatory significance in the prevention of cardiovascular complications.

Animals↗

Late stent thrombosis in the absence of prior intracoronary brachytherapy.

Late stent thrombosis has not been reported in the absence of prior coronary brachytherapy. We reviewed our experience in 1,855 consecutive patients who received at least one stent and did not receive coronary brachytherapy. Half of all stent thromboses occurred within the first week and nearly 65% (22) occurred within 15 days. The incidence of stent thrombosis within this traditional time frame was 1.2%. An additional 12 patients, however, presented with stent thrombosis between 33 and 270 days post-procedure (mean = 72.9 +/- 23 days). The true incidence of stent thrombosis was therefore 1.8% (34/1,855). There were three bypass operations, one stroke and two deaths in the late stent thrombosis group. Late stent thrombosis is an unusual but serious complication in patients who have not received coronary brachytherapy. Intracoronary radiation may potentiate a phenomenon that already occurs after stent deployment. Prolonged treatment (6-12 months) with anti-platelet agents should be considered after percutaneous intervention with coronary stents.

Aged↗

Low-dose aspirin therapy is associated with few side effects but does not prevent hepatic artery thrombosis in liver transplant recipients.

Hepatic artery thrombosis occurs in 4% to 10% of adult patients and in up to 26% of children undergoing liver transplantation. Aspirin has been used to prevent this complication but may increase procedure-related and gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin in the prophylaxis of hepatic artery thrombosis. The histories of 529 patients who survived liver transplantation between September 1988 and December 1993 were reviewed retrospectively. The routine clinical practice followed until 1992 was to initiate oral aspirin therapy on the first postoperative day (81 mg daily in adults and 40 mg daily in children) as prophylaxis for vascular thrombosis. This was done in 354 patients. Aspirin was not administered to the remaining 175 patients. Hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in 13 patients treated with aspirin (3.7%) and in 7 patients not treated with aspirin (4.0%) (P = .85). Recipient age of younger than 2 years and low donor liver weight were the only factors that predisposed the patients to hepatic artery thrombosis. A total of 1,651 percutaneous liver biopsies were performed in this series, with 1,111 performed in patients treated with aspirin. Significant bleeding after liver biopsy occurred in 12 patients treated with aspirin (1.1%) and in 3 patients not treated with aspirin (0.6%) (P = .29). Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in 66 patients treated with aspirin (18.9%) and in 23 patients not treated with aspirin (12.8%) (P = .08). Low-dose aspirin therapy is not shown to be effective in preventing hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation. Although aspirin does not produce a statistically significant increase in the risk of bleeding after liver biopsy, there is a trend toward an increased incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Adolescent↗

Effect of phosphate concentration in buffered irrigating solutions on arterial thrombosis.

The concentration of phosphate in buffered saline irrigation solutions was evaluated for its effect upon the incidence of arterial thrombosis. A rabbit thrombosis model of combined intimal abrasion and twisted pedicle in the rabbit central ear artery was used. Higher concentrations of phosphate (20 mM) in normal saline yielded a lower thrombosis rate at 7 days postoperatively (50%) in comparison to 5 mM phosphate (89% thrombosis rate; P < 0.05). A standard phosphate-buffered salt solution (Dulbecco's; 9.5 mM phosphate with potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts) also had a high thrombosis rate (91%). This study demonstrates that subtle variations in the irrigation solution can have profound effects upon arterial thrombosis.

Animals↗

Assessment of protamine-induced thrombosis of tumor vessels for cancer therapy using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Since the role of angiogenesis in cancer development has been recognized, the study of anti-angiogenic or anti-vascular therapeutic agents has become increasingly important for cancer treatment. Selective thrombosis is one approach towards this goal. Since many types of carcinoma accumulate large numbers of degranulating mast cells which will release heparin, intravenously injected protamine may bind to heparin, neutralize its anti-coagulant effect and induce thrombosis. In this work we studied the formation of thrombosis by using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. The enhancement kinetics of the contrast medium measured before and after protamine treatment were compared to assess the thrombotic effect. The underlying concept was that if the vessels became clotted, the subsequently injected contrast medium could not be delivered into the tissue to cause enhancement. In addition to the tissue-specific changes, protamine may also induce systemic effect in the host. The therapy-induced changes measured in tumors were compared to changes in normal tissues: liver, kidney, and especially the muscle adjacent to tumor. The results showed that protamine induced pronounced changes in the tumor. However, the degree of change measured by MRI was not associated with the results of semiquantitative assessment of thrombosis assessed by histology, perhaps due to the heterogeneous nature of the tumor and the difficulty in sampling sufficient regions histologically. The protamine-induced temporal effects were also studied. We demonstrated that protamine could induce selective thrombosis in tumors, and that the effect could last for several hours. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can serve as a suitable means to investigate the mechanism of this novel approach to induce selective thrombosis for anti-vascular cancer therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis in children: general principles.

Thrombosis is an increasingly recognized complication occurring primarily in children with serious underlying conditions and most often associated with intravenous catheters. There are few clinical trials available to guide the decision-making in the diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis. Although there are published guidelines which suggest how to manage such patients, they are based on data from adult studies and uncontrolled pediatric studies and it is unclear how widely these guidelines are utilized in clinical practice. What is clear is that many additional studies are needed to provide the data required to make evidence-based decisions. Nevertheless, patients today are being diagnosed with thrombosis and must be treated. Diagnosis is based largely on various diagnostic-imaging methods. While Doppler ultrasonography is non-invasive and relatively inexpensive, its sensitivity for the upper venous system is poor. Venography/angiography, the most sensitive method to diagnose venous/arterial thrombosis is underutilized due to the need for peripheral venous access for venography and arterial catheterization for angiography as well as interventional radiology. Newer methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful for large vessel disease but are not validated in pediatrics. Treatment is based on the methods that are best at restoring circulation rapidly balanced by the risk for bleeding. Both thrombolysis and anticoagulation can be utilized with the circumstances of each individual patient dictating the choice. The field of pediatric thrombosis continues to advance with numerous new studies currently underway or being planned. In the near future, the results of these studies will allow for better management of pediatric patients with thrombosis.

Child↗

Cerebral sinus thrombosis in a patient with hereditary protein S deficiency: case report and review of the literature.

Hereditary protein S deficiency is an established risk factor for venous thrombosis. The common sites of thrombosis are the deep leg and pelvic veins. We report on a 38-year-old female patient with hereditary protein S deficiency and a previous history of deep leg vein thrombosis, who developed thrombosis of the cerebral straight and superior sagittal sinus while taking oral contraceptives. The diagnosis was established by computerized tomography and carotid angiography. Lysis of the thrombus occurred during heparin treatment. The hereditary nature of protein S deficiency was documented by family studies, since nine additional family members deficient in protein S were identified. Nineteen published cases of cerebral vein thrombosis and a deficiency of either anti-thrombin III, protein C, or protein S were reviewed. Compared with patients without a deficiency state, the clinical features of cerebral vein thrombosis were similar except for an earlier onset and a positive medical history of venous thromboembolic events in a considerable number of patients.

Adult↗

Randomized, controlled trial of low molecular weight heparin vs. no deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis for major colon and rectal surgery in Asian patients.

PURPOSE: Routine deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is controversial in Asian patients, because deep venous thrombosis incidence was considered negligible. Because of recent reports of significantly higher incidences, a randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness and complications of enoxaparin prophylaxis (low molecular weight heparins) in major colorectal surgery. METHODS: Three hundred twenty consecutive patients were randomly assigned to control or low molecular weight heparins groups. Patients in the low molecular weight heparins group were given perioperative enoxaparin starting 12 hours before surgery. The surgeon (blinded) assessed for difficulties related to possible enoxaparin administration. Independent blinded observers performed daily clinical assessments and Doppler studies (at the 3rd and 5th postoperative day). Deep venous thrombosis was confirmed by duplex ultrasound, and pulmonary embolism was confirmed by lung scans or postmortem examinations. RESULTS: Deep venous thrombosis developed in 5 of 169 (3 percent) controls and 0 of 134 low molecular weight heparins patients (P = 0.045). Three of the deep venous thrombosis patients had pulmonary embolism, which was fatal in one patient. The surgeons were unable to perceive any increased surgical difficulties in the low molecular weight heparins group. The bleeding-related complications were significantly higher in the low molecular weight heparins patients (controls, n = 3 (1.8 percent); low molecular weight heparins, n = 9 (6.7 percent)). However, apart from one subdural hematoma and two abdominal hemorrhages needing re-exploration, which also occurred in one of the controls, these complications were minor bruises at the wounds, drains, or injection sites. CONCLUSION: Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis is needed in Asian patients undergoing major colorectal surgery.

Aged↗

Heparinization for prevention of thrombosis following pediatric percutaneous arterial catheterization.

One thousand three hundred and sixteen consecutively catheterized infants and children were evaluated prospectively for femoral artery thrombosis following percutaneous cardiac catheterization. One hundred units/kg heparin bolus was given to 649 patients after arterial puncture (group A). A supplementary 50 units/kg of heparin bolus was given to 381 patients 75 minutes later, followed by a continuous heparin infusion if pulses were decreased (group B). Two hundred forty-one patients were managed similarly except the first supplementary bolus was given 45 minutes after initial heparinization, if necessary, and the second bolus and continuous infusion were begun 45 minutes later, if necessary (group C). Arterial thrombosis was diagnosed if pulses were not equal to those of the unused extremity 6 hours following catheterization. The overall incidence of arterial thrombosis was 0.8%. No statistically significant (p less than .05) differences occurred related to the heparinization method used. However, absence of thrombosis in the last 241 consecutive patients (group C) and in the last 480 patients of groups B and C weighing more than 10 kg approaches significance (p less than .1). Incidence of thrombosis was less than in previous studies (p less than .0005 to .05). This study indicates that a very low incidence of arterial thrombosis can be achieved with systemic heparinization.

Adolescent↗

Psychological impact of thrombosis in the young.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombosis is rare in the young, but can cause severe psychological distress that influences the quality of life and the coping capacities of these patients. This study was meant to increase the understanding of self-perception, social and family functioning and ways of coping with the disease in young patients after an episode of thrombosis. METHODS: Seven questionnaires spanning social and family functioning and ways of coping with disease were completed by 50 patients < or = 45 years of age after a first episode of venous or arterial thrombosis. Data were compared with those of 39 healthy individuals with similar age, sex and level of education. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, young patients with thrombosis had lower self-esteem, showed higher impairment in social activities and in familial relationships, and used more frequently coping strategies. Most patients used all coping strategies, preferring the more active ones, but more patients than controls used the passive ones, particularly "avoidance" and "religiosity". A correlation was found between the frequency of use of passive or negative coping strategies and some of the psychological, social and familial dimensions that scored more negatively. Greater psychological impairment and differences in coping styles were found in women compared with men and in individuals < 34 years compared with those > or = 34 years. CONCLUSIONS: Young individuals with thrombosis develop psychological changes that influence their behaviour, quality of life and coping. This is particularly evident in women and in young patients. Physicians dealing with thrombosis should be aware of this situation and offer psychological support.

Adaptation, Psychological↗