The Latest ... on Testing for Hypercoagulability : The Four W ' s Newsletter Edition

Thrombophilia can thus be defined as: an inherited or acquired abnormality of haemostasis predisposing to thrombosis, predominantly on the venous side. Although thrombophilia is usually reserved for the hereditary types of hypercoagulability, the antiphospholipid syndrome is generally included under this term and can cause either venous or arterial thrombosis. (Refer to Table 3 for recommendations whom to test). Dr Erna Mansvelt MB ChB; MMed (Haem Path); MD (Haem Path), University of Stellenbosch Haematologist, Ampath