title: High plasma concentration of factor VIII coagulant is also a risk factor for venous thromboembolism in the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high level of coagulant factor VIII is a well known risk factor for venous thromboembolism, but most studies have enrolled patients under 70 years old. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that an association also exists in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  This hospital-based case-referent study took place at the Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, University Hospital, Brest, France. We enrolled 161 patients with a first episode of venous thrombosis and 239 subjects, referred for a clinical suspicion of venous thromboembolism which was subsequently ruled out. Factor VIII coagulant activity and plasma fibrinogen concentration were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High factor VIII coagulant activity was significantly associated with venous thromboembolism, irrespective of the age group. Patients over 70 years with factor VIII coagulant activity above 225% had a 2.4-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared to those patients with levels below 130% (age- and fibrinogen-adjusted odds ratio: 2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that high levels of factor VIII coagulant, a determinant of venous thrombosis in adulthood, is also a risk factor in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, F-29609 Brest Cedex, France. emmanuel.oger@chu-brest.fr
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oger
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lacut
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Dreden
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bressollette
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Abgrall
authors.forename: Marie-Thérèse
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Blouch
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Scarabin
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mottier
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D005169:Factor VIII