Recommendations for Screening for Thrombophilic Tendencies in Teenage Females Prior to Contraceptive Initiation

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are not common in children; however, over the past ten years the incidence has increased. 1 Van Ommen C. Peters M. Venous thromboembolic disease in childhood. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2003; 29: 391 Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar Reasons for the increase are two-fold. Physicians have an increased awareness of clotting events in children, and imaging modalities have improved, with a concomitant increase in diagnosis of VTEs. In addition, children with chronic medical conditions that predispose to thrombotic events are living longer and thereby suffering increased treatment-related sequelae. 1 Van Ommen C. Peters M. Venous thromboembolic disease in childhood. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2003; 29: 391 Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar It is important to note that VTEs are an increasingly recognized cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Newborns and teenagers over the age of 15 are at the greatest risk for developing thromboses. Thrombotic events in children are usually secondary complications of a primary illness or therapeutic modality. 1 Van Ommen C. Peters M. Venous thromboembolic disease in childhood. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2003; 29: 391 Crossref PubMed Scopus (35) Google Scholar