title: Inferior vena cava malformation as a risk factor for deep venous thrombosis in the young.
abstract: Conditions which result in hypercoagulable blood or venous stasis may predispose to the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Most of the recently described risk factors for DVT induce a hypercoagulable state. Over a 3-year period we have observed anomaly of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in four young patients presenting with spontaneous unprovoked DVT. This is a greater than expected rate (5% observed versus 0.5% expected). Further, bilateral DVT, which constitutes less than 10% of cases in most series, was present in three of the four cases. Anomaly of the IVC is a rare example of a prevalent congenital condition that predisposes to DVT, presumably by favouring venous stasis. This diagnosis should be considered in young patients with spontaneous and bilateral DVT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, UK.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Culligan
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*