The Open Atherosclerosis & Thrombosis Journal

2009, 2 : 1-3
Published online 2009 January 16. DOI: 10.2174/1876506800801010006
Publisher ID: TOATHERTJ-2-1

Venous Thromboembolism Involving Internal Jugular, Subclavian, Axillar and Brachial Veins in a Patient with Multiple Thrombophilic Defects and Malignancy

Pierpaolo Di Micco , Giuseppe Vito Viggiano , Maria Rosaria Diadema and Alferio Niglio
Internal Medicine,Fatebenefratelli, Hospital of Naples, Via San Giacomo dei Capri 69,1-80131, Naples, Italy.

ABSTRACT

Cancer and its related therapies are acquired thrombophilic risk factors. Patients with a malignancy can suffer a thrombotic complication such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities with a possible following pulmonary embolism. Recently, an increased association between upper extremity DVT and malignancy has been observed and several risk factors were identified. However, few data are available for the association between upper extremity DVT and inherited thrombophilia in oncological patients. Here we report a case of upper extremity DVT complicated by fatal pulmonary embolism in an oncological patient receiving chemotherapy and carrying 2 heterozygous genetic thrombophilic risk factors.

Keywords:

Upper limb deep vein thrombosis, malignancy, inherited thrombophilia, factor V Leiden, prothrombin A20210G.