Deep vein thrombosis screening
Editor(s)-In-Chief: The APEX Trial Investigators, C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2] Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [3]; Kashish Goel, M.D.; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Justine Cadet
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Value of screening
In-spite of identifying patients at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), there is no clear clinical value for screening the general population because:
- The strongest risk factor for VTE recurrence is a prior VTE event itself.
- VTE patients with unknown cause have a high rate of recurrence, after discontinuation of warfarin, irrespective of the presence of inherited thrombophilia.
- Anticoagulant prophylaxis is rarely recommended in asymptomatic affected family members, outside of high risk situations.
Duplex ultrasound screening is typically used for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in asymptomatic trauma patients.
Who should be screened?
Screening for inherited thrombophilia in patients who have DVT is discussed here.