Epidemiology of recurrent venous thrombosis

• Main Authors: D.D. Ribeiro, W.M. Lijfering, S.M. Barreto, F.R. Rosendaal, S.M. Rezende
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 2012-01-01
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
• Subjects: Recurrent venous thrombosis; Epidemiology; Risk factors
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2012000100001&lng=en&tlng=en

Venous thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a common disease that frequently recurs. Recurrence can be prevented by anticoagulants, but this comes at the risk of bleeding. Therefore, assessment of the risk of recurrence is important to balance the risks and benefits of anticoagulant treatment. This review briefly outlines what is currently known about the epidemiology of recurrent venous thrombosis, and focuses in more detail on potential new risk factors for venous recurrence. The general implications of these findings in patient management are discussed.