Recurrent venous thrombosis and markers of inflammation

Inflammatory processes may play a key role in venous thrombosis, by inducing a procoagulant state through the action of cytokines and chemokines on monocytes and endothelial cells. Plasma concentrations of three inflammatory mediators, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), that mediate the cross-talk between inflammation and coagulation, were measured in 182 subjects with recurrent venous thrombosis and 350 healthy subjects recruited through a general practice. Elevated levels of IL-6 (>90th percentile of the control group) were detected in 25.8% of the patients with venous thrombosis in comparison with 10% (by definition) of the controls [odds ratio 2.4 (95%CI 1.5-3.8)]. In 21.5% of the patients elevated plasma levels of IL-8 (>90th percentile) were determined [odds ratio 2.0 (95%CI 1.2-3.5)]. Elevated levels of MCP-1 (>90th percentile) were detected in 24.1% of the patients [odds ratio 1.9 (95%CI 1.2-3.2)]. This is the first large clinical study showing that an increase in inflammatory mediators is associated with venous thrombosis. Future prospective studies are necessary to clarify the causal nature of the inflammatory process with respect to venous thrombosis.