Thromboembolism in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To study pediatric patients who were diagnosed with thrombosis between January 2009 and March 2020.

METHODS: Patients were evaluated with respect to thrombophilic risk factors, localization of the thrombus, response to treatment, and recurrence rates during the last 11 y.

RESULTS: Among 84 patients, 59 (70%) had venous thrombosis and 20 (24%) had arterial thrombosis. The number of documented thrombosis amongst hospitalized children in authors' hospital has increased over the years. It has been observed that the annual incidence of thromboembolism has increased after 2014. Thirteen patients were recorded between 2009 and 2014 and 71 patients between 2015 and 2020 (until March 2020). Exact thrombosis localization could not be detected in 5 patients. The median age of patients was 8 ± 5.95 (range 0-18). Fourteen children (16.9%) had a history of familial thrombosis. Genetic and/or acquired risk factors were detected in 81 (96.4%) of the patients. Overall, 64 patients (76.1%) had acquired risk factors such as infection (20.2%), catheterization (13.1%), liver disease (11.9%), mastoiditis (8.3%), liver transplantation (6%), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (4.8%), dehydration (3.6%), trauma (3.6%) and cancer (2.4%). As genetic risk factors, the most common genetic mutations were PAI-1 4G>5G, MTHFR C677T, and MTHFR A1298C mutations. Twenty-eight (41.2%) patients had at least one genetic thrombophilic mutation. At least one homozygous mutation in 37 patients (44%) and at least one heterozygous mutation in 55 patients (65.4%) were detected.

CONCLUSIONS: The annual incidence of thrombosis has increased over the years. Genetic predisposition and acquired risk factors play an important role in etiology, treatment, and follow-up in children with thromboembolism. Especially, genetic predisposition is common. Thrombophilic risk factors should be investigated and optimal therapeutic and prophylactic measures should be promptly taken in children with thrombosis.