This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Lower activated partial thromboplastin time increases risk for VTE
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Patients with lower activated partial thromboplastin times may have a higher risk for venous thromboembolism.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, the University of Vermont and other institutions conducted the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study in 13,880 participants to determine the 13-year risk for venous thromboembolism based on baseline activated partial thromboplastin time. Levels of added coagulation factors were also examined with 258 venous thromboembolism cases and 589 matched controls.
Compared with patients in the fourth quartile of activated partial thromboplastin time, those in the lowest two quartiles had a 2.4-fold (95% CI, 1.4-4.2) and 1.9-fold higher risk for venous thromboembolism (95% CI, 1.1-3.2). Participants with both factor V Leiden and times below the median were 12.6-fold more likely to develop venous thromboembolism, compared to those without either risk factor (P interaction<.01).
The researchers concluded that lower activated partial thromboplastin time also affected the thrombosis risk related to obesity and elevated D-dimer. – by Stacey L. Adams
Am J Med. 2008;121:231-238.