Risks - Medical Conditions and DVT
A family or personal history of DVT or pulmonary embolism increases the likelihood that a person may experience one of these conditions because people who have a family or personal history of these conditions may have an inherited blood-clotting disorder. Examples of conditions that can cause DVT and that may be inherited by offspring include:
- factor V Leiden (FVL) gene mutation
- prothrombin II (PTII) gene mutation
- methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation
- plasminogen deficiency
- protein C deficiency (PCD)
- protein S deficiency (PSD)
- antithrombin III deficiency (ATIII)
- heparin cofactor II deficiency
Other medical conditions that increase the risk of DVT include:
Pregnancy: Pregnancy increases DVT risk five-fold, mainly because pregnancy causes a natural increase in the blood's clotting ability and also impedes blood flow back to the heart due to extra weight carried in the abdominal area -- especially in the last trimester.
Inflammatory conditions: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and lupus increase the risk of blood clotting or alter blood vessel function.
Cardiovascular conditions: Experiencing a heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, varicose veins or spider veins, or polycythemia all are associated with an increased risk of DVT.
Lung conditions: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and prolonged respiratory infections all cause tissue damage and decrease mobility, which can lead to DVT.
Cancer: Cancers of the colon, liver, lymphatic system (lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus), ovaries, pancreas, and stomach are particularly associated with an increase in DVT risk by increasing clotting factors in the blood. Treatments also can provoke clot formation.
