BACKGROUND: The relationship between deep venous thrombosis and thrombophilia has been little studied in patients with left common iliac vein compression, clinically known as May-Thurner syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of thrombophilia markers in patients with May-Thurner syndrome and left common iliac vein thrombosis. METHODS: From March 1999 to December 2008, 20 patients with May-Thurner syndrome and left common iliac vein thrombosis were retrospectively investigated for the presence of thrombophilia markers. RESULTS: The association between May-Thurner syndrome and thrombophilia markers was found in 8 patients (40%). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of thrombophilia markers in patients with May-Thurner syndrome and left common iliac vein thrombosis. The prevalence, however, is not different from that found in patients with deep venous thrombosis without May-Thurner syndrome.
Thrombophilia; venous thrombosis; risk factors
