Inherited thrombophilia in patients with chronic venous leg ulceration

Abstract

Background. Chronic venous ulceration (CVU), which is the end stage of the complex of symptoms of chronic venous disease (CVD), is a significant health problem. One of the major causes of CVU is deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Thrombophilia is diagnosed in about 41% of patients with a history of DVT. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of inherited thrombophilia (IT) in patients with CVU.
Material and methods. During 24 months, a group of 110 patients with CVU and a group of 110 healthy people were studied. There were no significant differences in age or sex between the two groups. All patients in the study group were assessed as C5 or C6 according to CEAP classification. The patients underwent clinical and Doppler ultrasonography examination. Blood was drawn for antithrombin (AT), protein C (PC) and S (PS), factor V Leiden (VL), prothrombin G20210A (PT), LA, and ACL.
Results. From the group of 110 CVU patients, IT was diagnosed in 33 (30%), LA in 5 (4.5%), and ACL in 12 (10.9%).
Conclusions. Our results suggest that IT might be one of several important thrombotic risk factors which lead to CVU.