Thrombophilia

Symptoms of thrombophilia

Most people do not realise they have thrombophilia until it causes a blood clot.

Symptoms of a blood clot can include:

throbbing pain and swelling in your legs and arms (deep vein thrombosis)
sudden breathing difficulties, chest pain and coughing up blood (pulmonary embolism)

Having repeated miscarriages can also be a symptom of thrombophilia.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you:

have throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg, usually in the calf or thigh
get swelling in 1 leg
have red, darkened or warm skin on your leg
suddenly have difficulty breathing
are coughing up blood

These could be the symptoms of a blood clot in your leg or your lungs.

You may get pain and swelling in your arm or tummy instead if that's where the blood clot is.

You can call 111 or get&t=/">get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you have severe difficulty breathing
you feel pain in your chest or upper back
your heart is beating very fast
someone has passed out

These could be signs of a pulmonary embolism or another serious condition.

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Types of thrombophilia

There are 2 types of thrombophilia, which have different causes.

If you have inherited thrombophilia, there is a chance you could pass the condition to any children you have. Your doctor can tell you more.

Diagnosing thrombophilia

You may be offered a blood test for thrombophilia if:

you had a blood clot and it's not obvious why you had it (for example, you're not overweight and do not smoke)
a close family member (parent, brother or sister) has inherited thrombophilia
you've had 3 or more miscarriages

Blood tests can check for altered genes or changes in your blood cells linked to thrombophilia.

You may be offered ultrasound scans or CT scans to see if there are any problems with your blood vessels.

Treatment for thrombophilia

There is currently no cure for thrombophilia that's caused by altered genes you inherit from your parents (inherited thrombophilia).

Thrombophilia that starts later in life (acquired thrombophilia) can sometimes get better if the underlying cause is treated.

If your doctor thinks your overall risk of a blood clot is low, you may not need any treatment.

If you need treatment, you'll usually be offered anticoagulant medicine. It works by making your blood less sticky so it's less likely to clot.

Things you can do if you have thrombophilia

For many people, thrombophilia does not have a big impact on their life. But there are things you can do to reduce the risk of getting blood clots.

Do

stay active
try to lose weight if you're overweight
drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration - you're more likely to get a clot if you're dehydrated
wear flight stockings or flight socks to improve your blood flow on long flights - a pharmacist can advise you about this

Don't

do not smoke
do not drink lots of alcohol - this can make you dehydrated
do not sit for long periods without moving, if you can avoid it

Important

Tell your doctor or healthcare professional that you have thrombophilia before having any medical procedures or starting any new prescription medicines (including contraception).

Some medicines may not be safe for you, and you may need extra treatment or monitoring when you have medical procedures.

Thrombophilia and pregnancy

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should contact your GP if you have thrombophilia.

You may need additional treatment and monitoring to reduce complications.

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