Conditions associated with thrombosis:
(1) hypercoagulable states
(1a) antithrombin III deficiency
(1b) protein C deficiency
(1c) protein S deficiency
(1d) hyperfibrinogenemia
(1e) thrombocytosis
(1f) increased factor 8 levels
(2) increased viscosity
(2a) hyperviscosity syndromes
(2b) paraproteinemias
(2c) leukemias with high white blood cell counts
(3) hemolysis
(4) hemoconcentration
where:
• The levels for defining hyperfibrinogenemia, thrombocytosis and increased factor 8 levels are not defined. I have used > 500 mg/dL, > 500,000 per µL, and > 120% of normal, but this is arbitrary.
• The number of white blood cells in leukemia that confers an increased risk is not defined.
Thrombotic complications:
(1) myocardial infarction following thrombosis of coronary arteries
(2) stroke
(3) venous thrombosis
Reducing the risk of thrombosis:
(1) continuous flushing with a saline solution to prevent mixing of blood and contrast material
(2) premedication with heparin
(3) use of plastic syringes (rather than glass syringes)
(4) not mixing the contrast material with blood before injection
