Aim of the study
Thrombosis is rare in childhood with limited studies. Our
retrospective study was designed to evaluate
children with documented thrombotic events registered in our pediatric
hematology -oncology unit over the last 3 years as regards clinical features,
etiology , management and outcomes.
Methods: Among 963 newly registered, 30
patients (16
females and 14
males , median age 4.5 years) with clinical and radiological evidence of
thrombosis were identified.
Data collection included clinical presentation, identifiable
risk factors ,
thrombophilia screening , radiologic investigations,
treatment and outcome.
Results: Age at first thrombotic event was higher for
patients with
secondary than primary
etiology (p=0.018). In 66.7% of
patients , there was at least one identified
risk for
thrombosis , and
cancer chemotherapy was the most frequent
etiology . Inherited
thrombophilia were proven in 13.3%.
Secondary thrombophilia presented mostly with neurological symptoms (70%) while inherited
thrombophilias with
purpura fulminans (80%) (p=0.001). The
recurrence was higher with primary (30%) compared to
secondary thrombophilias (10%).
Patients ' outcome included
neurologic deficit (26.7%),
recurrence (16.7%),
amputation (6.7%) and
death (16.7%).
Conclusion: Thrombosis secondary to an acquired
risk factor occurred at older age, commonly presented by central
thrombosis with no significant difference between primary and
secondary thrombosis in the residual effects. Further studies are warranted to determine proper duration of
anticoagulant therapy to prevent
recurrence .