Indian scientist links hereditary factors to abdominal venous thrombosis
Washington, October 11 : A study conducted at the Christian Medical College &
Hospital, Vellore, has revealed that hereditary and acquired risk factors play an
important role in the clotting of blood in abdominal veins, a condition medically known as
abdominal venous thrombosis.
Professor Ashok Chacko, the study leader, says that recognition and evaluation of these
risk factors may help in therapy, and prevention of disease progression.
He has revealed that hereditary risk factors for thrombophilia include Factor V Leiden
gene mutation, Prothrombin gene mutation, homozygous methyl tetrahydrofolate reductase
(MTHFR) gene mutation and deficiencies of coagulation inhibitor Protein C, Protein S and
Antithrombin III.
During the study, the patients were divided into groups based on whether they had BCS
or SVT. Twenty patients had SVT, 14 had BCS and 2 had mixed venous involvement.
All of them were tested for inherited and acquired risk factors for blood clotting.
The researchers observed that 28 per cent patients had inherited and 28 per cent
patients had acquired risk factors.
They also observed that acquired risk factors were significantly more common in
patients with SVT, while hereditary risk factors were similar in patients with BCS and
SVT.
Multiple risk factors were present in seven per cent of the patients with BCS and 15
per cent patients with SVT. No risk factors were identified in 57 per cent of patients
with BCS and 45 per cent with SVT.
Based on their observations, the researchers came to the conclusion that hereditary and
acquired risk factors play an important role in aetiopathogenesis of abdominal venous
thrombosis.
However, since a significant number of patients lack obvious aetiology further research
is required to identify as yet unrecognised risk factors, according to the
researchers.
An article on the research has been published in the World Journal of
Gastroenterology.
--ANI
