Thrombosis is a process involving the formation of a clot in the bloodstream and is classified into several different types, according to the location of the thrombus.

The two broad classifications are venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis, depending on whether the clot was developed in an artery or a vein. Within these categories, there are several subtypes of thrombosis.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) commonly involves the formation of a blood clot in the femoral vein of the leg and is the most common type of thrombosis to cause serious complications. If the thrombus breaks off to form an embolism it moves with the blood towards the lungs and commonly causes pulmonary embolism

Typical signs of deep vein thrombosis are pain, swelling and redness in the legs. If these are noted and DVT is suspected, assessment and management should be conducted as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of pulmonary embolism.

Portal vein thrombosis

This type of thrombosis occurs in the hepatic portal vein and can cause portal hypertension and affect the blood supply to the liver. In most cases, it results from other abnormalities in the body, such as pancreatitis, cirrhosis, diverticulitis or cholangiocarcinoma.

Renal vein thrombosis

The renal vein can also be obstructed by a thrombus, which can result in reduced kidney drainage. This type is known as renal vein thrombosis and is common in patients with nephrotic syndrome.  

Jugular Vein Thrombosis

Thrombosis of the jugular vein is an extremely rare type of venous thrombosis that usually occurs as a result of intravenous drug use but is also associated with infection and malignancy. Individuals affected by this type may develop serious complications such as systemic sepsis, pulmonary embolism and papilledema.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome

This type of venous thrombosis involves the obstruction of the hepatic vein and the outflow of blood from the liver. It is uncommon but may be recognized by symptoms of abdominal pain, ascites and hepatomegaly.

Paget-Schroetter Disease

Also known as effort thrombosis, this refers to thrombosis occurring in an upper extremity vein, such as the axillary or subclavian vein. It usually affects physically active people and presents most often immediately after or during high-intensity exercise.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

This is a rare type of stroke, caused by a thrombus in the venous channels of the brain. It is characterized by headache, abnormal vision and symptoms of stroke, such as difficulty speaking and moving the facial and arm muscles. The majority of people make a full recovery, but adequate treatment as for a stroke is required to promote healthy recovery.

Thrombotic Stroke

This is a type of arterial thrombosis that involves a blockage in the cerebral artery that is responsible for supply blood and oxygen to the brain. Thrombotic stroke usually presents more gradually than other types of stroke, such as hemorrhagic, due to the gradual build up of the thrombus and the growing obstruction.

Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction can result from several causes but often arises as a result of arterial thrombosis in the coronary artery. This has the potential to be fatal and requires immediate medical attention to address the cause and limit damage to the muscle cells of the heart.

References

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18358674
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175500170900089X
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/184430-overview
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074152140902518X
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1162804-overview
• http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/arterial-thrombosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
• http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/460752-overview

Further Reading

• All Thrombosis Content
• What is Thrombosis?
• Thrombosis Causes
• Thrombosis Embolisation
• Thrombosis Prevention

Written by

Yolanda Smith

Yolanda graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and has experience working in both Australia and Italy. She is passionate about how medicine, diet and lifestyle affect our health and enjoys helping people understand this. In her spare time she loves to explore the world and learn about new cultures and languages.