Thrombophilia and venous thromboembolism: RIETE experience

RIETE is an ongoing registry of consecutive patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). First we learned that in RIETE the prevalence of positive tests was 32%. One in every 2 patients younger than 50 years tested positive, with no differences between idiopathic or secondary, first event or recurrent VTE. In contrast, one in every 4 patients older than 50 years tested positive. Then, we found that the younger age of women with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A may be attributed to the higher proportion of women who had the VTE during pregnancy or contraceptive use. At variance with this, 60% of men had idiopathic VTE, and only those with factor V Leiden were younger than those who tested negative. We need more patients, more data and a longer follow-up. In a near future we might be able to learn more about the outcome of VTE patients.