[Which tests should be performed after phlebitis and/or pulmonary embolism?]

The lack of knowledge of the origin of venous thrombosis (VT) causes frustration and distress to the clinician. Some results published in the literature suggest a lot of potential aetiologies. Anyhow, we are far from getting a proof that a systematic and exhaustive search for a potential cause, for instance impairment of blood coagulation or infraclinical cancer, could be of benefit for the patient and could present a good cost/efficacy ratio. Consensus recommendations limit the extent of blood coagulation studies only to some precise clinical situations. New biological data evidencing a resistance to activated C protein in 20 to 50 per cent of VT cases, will likely bring new rules. As far as infraclinical cancers are concerned and whether their relationship to idiopathic VT is well-established, it is still doubtful that such systematic heavy and expensive checking up could be of any benefit.