Cardiovascular diseases

Predisposition to thrombosis denotes an increased risk or an individual sensitivity of a patient to suffer from thrombosis.
Thrombosis is a disease of the blood vessels and coagulation system. The viscosity of the blood is usually balanced by a multifactorial coagulation system. Blood is liquid to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide and nutrients in the whole body. If a blood vessel is injured, the blood coagulates to form a thrombus closing the wound and reducing the loss of blood.
If this coagulation balance is altered it may lead to clots formation. Clots can circulate in the body and might close veins or arteries interrupting the oxygen and nutrients supply. Stroke, heart infarct or pulmonary embolism can be imminent.

The predisposition to thrombosis is triggered by risk factors. Obesity, cardiac insufficiency, Diabetes mellitus, changed hormones status in pregnancy, menopause or during intake of contraceptive as well as lack of movement caused by immobilization after surgery contribute to the predisposition to thrombosis. Even more important are hereditary changes in the coagulation system that increase the thrombosis risk.
Since thrombosis often appears without showing clinical symptoms in advance a reliable and early diagnosis and detection of predisposition to thrombosis is important. Using DNA analyzing methods for examination of individual predisposition to thrombosis can reduce life threatening embolism for example in hospitalized patients. The most common hereditary factors are polymorphisms in the F5 and F2 gene that can be detected at once by Astra Biotech`s Thrombosis-F5, F2 kit.

Thrombosis - general information