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American Society of Hematology 2023 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: thrombophilia testing

  • Saskia Middeldorp
  • , Robby Nieuwlaat
  • , Lisa Baumann Kreuziger
  • , Michiel Coppens
  • , Damon Houghton
  • , Andra H. James
  • , Eddy Lang
  • , Stephan Moll
  • , Tarra Myers
  • , Meha Bhatt
  • , Chatree Chai-Adisaksopha
  • , Luis E. Colunga-Lozano
  • , Samer G. Karam
  • , Yuan Zhang
  • , Wojtek Wiercioch
  • , Holger J. Schünemann
  • , Alfonso Iorio
  • Radboud University Nijmegen
  • McMaster University
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • University of Amsterdam
  • Amsterdam UMC
  • Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN
  • Duke University
  • University of Calgary
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Chiang Mai University
  • Universidad de Guadalajara

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

228 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hereditary and acquired thrombophilia are risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Whether testing helps guide management decisions is controversial. Objective: These evidence-based guidelines from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) intend to support decision making about thrombophilia testing. Methods: ASH formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel covering clinical and methodological expertise and minimizing bias from conflicts of interest. The McMaster University GRADE Centre provided logistical support, performed systematic reviews, and created evidence profiles and evidence-to-decision tables. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach (GRADE) was used. Recommendations were subject to public comment. Results: The panel agreed on 23 recommendations regarding thrombophilia testing and associated management. Nearly all recommendations are based on very low certainty in the evidence due to modeling assumptions. Conclusions: The panel issued a strong recommendation against testing the general population before starting combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and conditional recommendations for thrombophilia testing in the following scenarios: (a) patients with VTE associated with nonsurgical major transient or hormonal risk factors; (b) patients with cerebral or splanchnic venous thrombosis, in settings where anticoagulation would otherwise be discontinued; (c) individuals with a family history of antithrombin, protein C, or protein S deficiency when considering thromboprophylaxis for minor provoking risk factors and for guidance to avoid COCs/hormone replacement therapy; (d) pregnant women with a family history of high-risk thrombophilia types; and (e) patients with cancer at low or intermediate risk of thrombosis and with a family history of VTE. For all other questions, the panel provided conditional recommendations against testing for thrombophilia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7101-7138
Number of pages38
JournalBlood Advances
Volume7
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

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