Skip to main content

Risk for Venous Thromboembolism Up for Those With Sickle Cell Trait

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 13, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 12, 2024 -- Individuals with sickle cell trait (SCT) have an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Blood Advances.

Keng-Han Lin, Ph.D., from 23andMe in Sunnyvale, California, and colleagues leveraged data from the 23andMe Research cohort (4,184,082 participants) to calculate the ancestry-independent risk for VTE associated with SCT. A meta-analysis of three genetic ancestry groups (European [3,183,142 participants], Latine [597,539 participants], and South Asian [41,257 participants]) was used to calculate odds ratios.

The researchers found that 2.25 percent of participants from the full cohort reported a history of VTE. In a meta-analysis, the risk for VTE was increased 1.45-fold among individuals with SCT versus non-SCT carriers, similar to the full cohort estimate. In SCT, the risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) was higher than that of isolated deep vein thrombosis (DVT; odds ratios, 1.95 versus 1.04). Carriers of factor V Leiden had a 3.30-fold increased risk for VTE versus noncarriers, with a higher risk for isolated DVT versus PE (odds ratios, 3.59 and 2.72, respectively).

"Our study also provides high-powered data to confirm the PE-predominant pattern of VTE in SCT carriers. These data may inform clinical practice guidelines, future research, and public health initiatives in SCT," the authors write.

Several authors are employed by and hold stock or stock options in 23andMe.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted September 2024

Read this next

Hydroxyurea Has Sustained Clinical Benefits in Children With Sickle Cell Anemia

TUESDAY, April 29, 2025 -- For children with sickle cell anemia (SCA), hydroxyurea has sustained clinical benefits in terms of reducing emergency department visits and hospital...

C-Reactive Protein Increases During Menstrual Cycle in Females With Sickle Cell Disease

TUESDAY, April 15, 2025 -- For adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increase significantly during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle...

Venous Thromboembolism Risk Higher for Certain Hormonal Contraceptives

THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2025 -- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk varies across hormonal contraceptives, according to a research letter published online Feb. 10 in the Journal of the...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.