The effect of venostasis on several laboratory parameters in patients with predisposition to venous thromboembolism.

A series of laboratory tests was performed in 25 patients with recurrent venous thromboembolism as compared with 14 healthy person. The tests were combined with venostasis. The values of haematocrit, low-shear viscosity and fibrinogen were significantly higher in the preocclusion samples of the group with recurrent thromboembolism than in the controls. Venostasis did not increase the sensitivity of the tests. Platelet counts, euglobulin fibrinolysis, antithrombin III and total plasma proteins were not significantly increased either in preocclusion or in postocclusion samples as compared with the controls.