VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Karolina Karabin, MD, PhD, molecular biologist, laboratory diagnostician, nutrition and lifestyle consultant

Thick blood is a colloquial term for the various conditions that lead to thickening of our blood. The cause of thick blood can be minor dehydration, but in some cases, thick blood can result from serious diseases that even threaten our lives. What are the causes of thick blood and how to recognize it?

Blood is made up of various elements such as blood cells, proteins, clotting factors, electrolytes, and water that determine its thickness and viscosity. It is the change of proportions in the individual blood components that causesblood to become thicker .

Thick blood - what is it?

It is worth emphasizing that the term "thick blood" does not function in medical terminology, but the colloquial terms used to describe such conditions lead to the thickening of our blood. Most often, thick blood is what is called thrombophilia (or hypercoagulability).

It is when the body forms too many clots, even when there are no injuries, e.g. cuts. These clots can block blood flow to vital organs, such as the brain, heart and lungs.

In addition, thick blood may result from dehydration, an excess of red blood cells or plasma proteins, e.g. in autoimmune diseases.

Thick blood - causes

Thick blood caused by thrombophilia can be congenital (hereditary) or acquired. The causes of congenital thrombophilias include:

  • mutation of blood coagulation factor V, i.e. factor V Leiden (most common cause)
  • mutation 20220A of the prothrombin gene
  • protein deficiency C
    • 1. type I - reduced concentration and activity of the C
      • protein
    • 2. type IIa - proper concentration of protein C and reduced anticoagulant and amidolytic activity
    • 3. type IIb - proper concentration of protein C and reduced anticoagulant activity and correct amidolytic activity
  • protein deficiency S
    • 1. type I - reduced concentration of total and free S protein and its activity
    • 2. type II - normal concentration of total and free S protein and its decreased activity
    • 3. type III - normal concentration of total protein S ireduced concentration of free S protein and its activity
  • antithrombin deficiency
    • 1. type I - decreased concentration of antithrombin and its activity
    • 2. type II - normal concentration of antithrombin and its decreased activity
  • dysfibrinogenemia e.g. Marburg fibrinogen
  • homozygous form of homocystinuria
  • plasminogen deficiency
  • increased factor VIII activity

However, the causes of acquired thrombophilia are:

  • antiphospholipid syndrome
  • hyperhomocysteinemia
  • increased factor IX concentration
  • increased concentration of factor XI

Other causes of thick blood besides thrombophils are:

  • dehydration caused, for example, by loss of fluid through the digestive tract, kidneys or skin
  • autoimmune diseases, e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus
  • polycythemia (hyperaemia) caused by:
    • hematological neoplasm, e.g. polycythemia vera
    • staying in high mountain conditions (above 2500 m above sea level)
    • engaging in very intense physical activity
    • smoking

Thick blood - consequences

In most cases, thick blood contributes to the development of venous or arterial thromboembolism, especially deep vein thrombosis. The most common venous thrombosis resulting from thrombophils occurs when genetic predisposition and factors such as:

overlap
  • trauma,
  • pregnancy,
  • oral contraception,
  • Does the presence of cancer.

The consequence of thick blood can also be:

  • cerebral vein thrombosis,
  • vein thrombosis in the abdominal cavity,
  • upper limb thrombosis,
  • pulmonary embolism,
  • miscarriages,
  • fetal death,
  • skin necrosis.

One of the most serious and potentially fatal consequences of thick blood is pulmonary embolism, which is when a clot blocks blood flow in the arteries of the lungs.

Thick blood - symptoms

Thick blood alone does not give any symptoms until it is caused by specific diseases. In the case of thrombophilias, these can be:

  • dizziness
  • headache
  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • bruising
  • itchy skin
  • chronic fatigue

Thick blood - laboratory tests

When a doctor suspects that we have thick blood, he or she orders a series of tests to identify its cause:

  • blood count,
  • OB,
  • homocysteine,
  • protein C concentration and activity,
  • concentration of total and free S protein,
  • antithrombin concentration and activity,
  • factor VIII activity,
  • genetic tests for the presence of mutations in the protombin gene and factor V Leiden,
  • prothrombin time (PT) and INR,
  • kaolin-kephalin time (APTT).

Thick blood - treatment

If your thick blood is due to dehydration, simply replenish your fluids. If thrombophilias are diagnosed, the doctor prescribes specific treatment, which includes, among others, on the administration of drugs containing heparin or acenocoumarol.

Category:

Cardiology