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Acquired hypercoagulable states

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Secondary hypercoagulable states are acquired during life, usually in an individual who is unwell or immobile.

The common causes of a secondary hypercoagulable state fall into three main categories:

  • venous stasis caused by:
    • immobility
    • obesity
    • congestive cardiac failure
    • posteroperative bedrest

  • coagulation factor activation caused by:
    • malignant disease
    • pregnancy
    • oestrogen and oral contraceptive use
    • nephrotic syndrome
    • antiphospholipid syndrome

  • platelet activation caused by:
    • myeloproliferative disorders
    • thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Commonly an acute thrombotic episode results in an individual who acquires a hypercoagulable state on the background of a primary hypercoagulability.

Reference:

  • Schafer, AI. (1994). Hypercoagulable states: molecular genetics to clinical practice. Lancet, 344, 1739-42.

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