A shortened activated partial thromboplastin time is associated with the risk of venous thromboembolism

Hypercoagulability due to high coagulation factors XI, VIII, IX, II, and fibrinogen is recognized as a risk factor of venous thromboembolism (VTE). These factors are cumulatively explored by the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). To test the hypothesis that a short APTT increases the risk of VTE, a case-control study was carried out in 605 patients referred for thrombophilia testing after documented VTE and in 1290 controls. Median APTT ratio (coagulation time of test-to-reference plasma) values were 0.97 (range: 0.75-1.41) for patients and 1.00 (range: 0.7:2-1.33) for controls (P < .001). In patients who had an APTT ratio smaller than the fifth percentile of the distribution in controls, the odds ratio (OR) for VTE was 2.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.7-3.6) and was independent of inherited thrombophilic abnormalities. Further statistical analyses in 193 patients and 259 controls for whom factor VIII (FVIII) levels were available showed a decrease of the OR from 2.7 (95% CI: 1.4-5.3) to 2.1 (95% CI: 1.0-4.2), indicating that the risk was only partially mediated by high FVIII levels. In conclusion, hypercoagulability detected by a shortened APTT is independently associated with VTE. This inexpensive and simple test should be considered in the evaluation of the risk of VTE. (C) 2004 by The American Society of Hematology.