Venous thromboembolism. A review.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). A number of factors can increase VTE risk, including aging, smoking, immobility, pregnancy and a hereditary thrombophilia. Presenting symptoms are not definitive for DVT or PE, and objective testing is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. A number of antithrombolic agents are used in the prophylaxis and treatment of VTE. The current trend is toward using low-molecular-weight heparins instead of unfractionated heparin. There is increasing interest in new agents that can target a single factor in the coagulation cascade.