Description

The hereditary thrombophilias (genetic predisposition to thrombosis) are a group of inherited conditions that predispose to thrombosis. A thrombotic event, venous or arterial, occours when the blood (even in small quantity) coagulates inside a blood vessel, adheres to vessel wall and partially or completely obstructs the vessel, preventing blood flow. The clot is called thrombus. In most cases these are defects or alterations of one or more blood coagulation factors. Coagulation is a very complex process characterized by the sequential intervention of many different factors (proteins). Mutations in genes encoding coagulation factors may represent a risk factor for pregnant women.