A 44-year-old Caucasian woman is being treated in an airport infirmary after she developed a painful, swollen leg during a transatlantic flight in economy class. The woman is suspected of having deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is questioning the paramedics about why this might be the case, given that she has twice previously had similar experiences. Which of the following teaching points by the airport medical staff would be most appropriate?
A) "A lot of Caucasian people have a genetic mutation that causes platelets to stick to their blood vessel walls."
B) "There is a genetic disorder that causes many Caucasians to form more clots in their blood vessels."
C) "A lot of Caucasians have an inherited inability to dissolve clots that form in their bodies."
D) "Your doctor might be able to tell you if you've inherited a predisposition to bleeding in your veins."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the listed responses refer to the Leiden mutation, which is best characterized as an inhibition of normal clot dissolution due to factor V defects. It does not involve platelet aggregation or adhesion or excess bleeding. It is better characterized as decreased clot dissolution rather than increased clot formation.

A 44-Year-Old Caucasian Woman Is Being Treated in an Airport