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Under what circumstances would you consider anticoagulation in a young female patient with persistently elevated factor XI activity?

While this is a known risk factor for venous [Meijers et al NEJM 2000] and potentially arterial [Yang et al, Am J Clin Pathol 2006] thrombosis, it is unclear to what extent this should affect the decision for anticoagulation. Would this affect your decision for anticoagulation in a patient with prior venous thrombosis with transient risk factors? With history of stroke/CVA? During pregnancy/postpartum?
1 Answer
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Hematology · Mount Sinai
Answered on
  1. First, get a baseline D-dimer to see how procoagulant she is at that point.
  2. If elevated, long travel on plane, pre-op and post-op for 2 months - consider short-term anticoagulation.
  3. If past thrombosis - give lifelong anticoagulation.
  4. If pregnant - follow D-dimer; if it goes up, anticoagulate.

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