lupus anticoagulant & DVT

[GnomeDePlume]

I had a DVT earlier in the year. Hospital not sure of the cause (no immobilisation) so did some extra blood tests once I had been off warfarin for several weeks.

One of the results is positive for lupus anticoagulant.

Does anyone know what this means please? I have googled and all the information seems to be about pregnancy related problems. My family is complete so I dont know if this positive result is something I need to worry about or not.

It's an immunoglobulin that can cause blood to clot inappropriately ('sticky' blood that clots when it shouldn't). If I remember right you have to test positive for it at least twice over a certain amount of time (think mine was done at 6 months). Because you've already had DVT there's a fair chance you might need long term treatment with anticoagulants - you would meet the criteria for Antiphospholipid syndrome I think.

I just have to take low dose aspirin daily because I haven't had a 'thrombotic event' (clot, miscarriage etc).

Thank you Myama, I am back to see the hematologist on Friday.

Sounds like more blood tests coming (oh yippety skip)

Hope it goes alright!

Thank you Myamya

To follow up on this.

I will now be going onto warfarin permanently. My risk of another thrombosis is very high, possible as much as 30%. There are undoubtedly risks with warfarin but I feel the risk of a major bleed is more manageable than a blood clot.

You've definitely done the right thing. The risk of clots/stroke is just too high.