No treatment is required if you do not have symptoms.

If you develop blood clots, your doctor may prescribe blood thinners (heparin followed by warfarin). Higher-than-usual doses of warfarin may be needed.

The outcome is usually good with appropriate therapy. Some patients have difficult-to-control clots with recurrent symptoms.

• Blood clot in lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• Heart attack
• Stroke

Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of a blood clot, which include swelling or redness in the leg, shortness of breath, or pain, numbness and pallor in an arm or leg.

Images

Blood clots

Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face

Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, M.D., Hematology/Oncology, Palm Beach Cancer Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)