MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Hypercoagulable states

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Hypercoagulable states

Contents of this page:
Alternative Names Definition	Causes

Alternative Names

Thromboembolic states

Definition Return to top

Hypercoagulable states are conditions that may lead to the abnormal development of blood clots. Blood clots can develop in either arteries or veins.

See also:

Blood clots in the legs
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
Hepatic vein obstruction (Budd-Chiari syndrome)
Mesenteric vein thrombosis
Pulmonary embolus
Stroke
Stroke secondary to cardiogenic embolism

Causes Return to top

Conditions that can lead to the formation of blood clots include prolonged bedrest, dehydration, poor positioning (such as crossing the legs), sitting for long periods (such as in a plane or car), and prolonged use of an intravenous catheter.

Some medical situations can lead to the formation of abnormal blood clots. These include cancer, recent surgery or trauma, obesity, liver or kidney disease, and some medications.

In women, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy increase the risk of blood clots, and the risk is greatly increased in those who also smoke. The periods before, during, and after pregnancy also increase the risk of clots.

A tendency to form abnormal blood clots also can be related to genetic problems. For example, two relatively common inherited conditions that affect clotting are Factor V Leiden and the Prothrombin mutation 20210A. Rare inherited conditions include Protein C, Protein S, and Anti-thrombin III deficiencies.

Update Date: 5/3/2006

Updated by: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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