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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Unknown reason for pulmonary embolism
Answered by
MN
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Unknown reason for pulmonary embolism
by rroniger, Feb 27, 2008 05:02PM
Back in December, I had 2 episodes that led me to the hospital, and ultimately, was diagnosed with a PE. After further testing, there was nothing revealed that showed the cause. I was therapeutic on Coumadin when I had another episode which revealed another PE about a month later. As far as I know, they have run every known test which all come back negative. Every scan that has been run reveal no DVT. I have been placed on Lovenox indefinitely and had an IVC filter put in (even though they are not sure where the emboli are coming from). Are there any other tests I can inquire about? Is it common to have a PE with no evidence of a DVT? Am I realisticly looking at Lovenox for the rest of my life? I am a 32 year old male with no prior history and according to the doctors in good health. A few women on my mother's side have had DVT's around childbirth, but to my knowledge, noone has shown any genetic predisposition that can be identified.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish Health, Mar 03, 2008 05:00PM
, Mar 03, 2008 05:00PM
It is uncommon, but not rare to have pulmonary emboli (PE), without evidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs. PE can originate in other deep veins including pelvic veins, upper extremity veins, renal veins and great veins that enter the heart. They can also originate from within the heart. Finally, in some instances the clots in the lung may not be emboli; that is, they may not have come from a site outside the lungs. Rather the thrombi, commonly called clots, can arise within the blood vessels in the lung, either as a result of a clotting disorder or due to disease of these blood vessels within the lung called vasculitis.
Persistent thrombo-embolism, especially in the circumstance of therapeutic anticoagulation, is very serious and those afflicted, such as yourself, should seek consultation with physicians most expert in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary emboli. One such expert is Peter F. Fedullo, MD who is at the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and UCSD Medical Center San Diego. You may want to contact Peter F. Fedullo, MD either for evaluation in San Diego or for his recommendation of clinical expertise, in your part of the country. You should seek his recommendations, without delay.
Persistent thrombo-embolism, especially in the circumstance of therapeutic anticoagulation, is very serious and those afflicted, such as yourself, should seek consultation with physicians most expert in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary emboli. One such expert is Peter F. Fedullo, MD who is at the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and UCSD Medical Center San Diego. You may want to contact Peter F. Fedullo, MD either for evaluation in San Diego or for his recommendation of clinical expertise, in your part of the country. You should seek his recommendations, without delay.
