deCODE Cardio

deCODE Venous Thromboembolism test

Tests for Factor V Leiden, a variant in the FGA/FGB gene cluster on chromosome 4, and a variant in the ABO blood group genes.

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The deCODE Cardio Scan detects the same risk factors and markers included in our individual tests for:

Atrial Fibrillation (deCODE AF™),
Clopidogrel Metabolizing Status (deCODE Clopidogrel™),
Heart Attack (deCODE MI™) and
Type 2 Diabetes (deCODE T2™).

together with:

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Intracranial Aneurysm and Venous Thromboembolism.

Venous Thromboembolism

Screening and prevention

How the deCODE VTE test can help.

deCODE’s VTE test helps identify those patients who, in addition to previous VTE events and/or a positive family history of thrombosis, are also at increased genetic risk. Those at moderate and high risk when all factors are considered may benefit from prophylactic anticoagulation when under additional medical or circumstantial risk.

Individuals at moderate and high risk (>2-fold average risk), including homo- and heterozygous factor V Leiden carriers, should be aware of the signs and symptoms of VTE requiring immediate medical attention as well as the potential need for prophylactic anticoagulation treatement.

Molecular genetic testing for VTE risk is reliable in individuals on warfarin or heparin anticoagulation, and independent of thrombotic episodes.

deCODE’s VTE test identifies 5% of the population that is at more than twice the average risk of venous thromboembolism independent of other risk factors.

deCODE’s VTE test should be considered for:

  • individuals with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or
  • gauging risk of pulmonary embolism, especially in women with a history of VTE during pregnancy or in association with oral contraceptive use
  • individuals with a personal or family history of recurrent thrombosis

The association of the genetic markers of the deCODE VTE test to increased risk of VTE has been verified in genetic association studies as well as indirectly by coagulation assays in the case of factor V Leiden.

The deCODE VTE test is highly sensitive, accurate and specific for the thrombophilias it detects. The F5 gene encoding factor V is the only gene associated with the factor V Leiden thrombophilia, and the markers in the FGA/FGB locus and in the ABO blood group genes are specific for the respective thrombophilic conditions.

Clinical significance of deCODE’s VTE test.

Individuals who test positive in a functional assay can benefit from further risk analysis with deCODE’s test, both for confirmation and to distinguish heterozygotes from homozygotes.

Prophylactic anticoagulation treatment of individuals with increased genetic risk should be considered in the context of other medical and circumstantial risk factors.

Individuals at moderate and high risk (>2-fold average risk), including homo- and heterozygous factor V Leiden carriers, should be aware of the signs and symptoms of VTE requiring immediate medical attention as well as the potential need for prophylactic anticoagulation treatement.

This content was last reviewed on February 04, 2011.