The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2003; 45: 167-169 Case Trauma as a risk factor for thrombosis in children: A report of three cases

Thromboembolism is described as a multifactorial disorder including both congenital and acquired risk factors in children. Among these, trauma has been suggested as a possible risk factor for development of thrombosis. In this study, we reviewed the data of 158 children with thrombosis. Trauma was the major risk factor for thrombosis in three children. Cerebral infarction and cerebral venous thrombosis were detected in two patients, and thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and left renal vein in the third. In addition, the factor V Leiden mutation was demonstrated in two trauma patients with thrombosis. Thromboembolism in children is a multifactorial disorder in which both genetic and acquired risk factors play a role. In the first year of life, thrombosis usually occurs either in association with in-dwelling catheters or as renal vein thrombosis. In older children, catheterization remains one of the most frequent risk factors for development of thrombosis. Additionally, surgery, malignancy, infections, autoimmune disorders, homocystinuria and trauma have been described as the other contributory risk factors1-4. Although trauma has been shown to be one of the major risk factors for thrombosis in the adult population, only a few publications exist in children5-8. The factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation is the most widely recognized cause of hereditary thrombophilia9-11. In this study, we reviewed the data of 158 children with thrombosis with special emphasis on trauma and associated thrombophilic risk factors (protein C, protein S, antithrombin, factor VII, D-dimer antiphospholipid antibodies, homocysteine level, FVL mutation). Here, we describe three trauma patients with thrombosis, two of whom also had the FVL mutation as the underlying factor