Blood Clot Disorders

Blood clot disorders are uncommon, but without treatment, they can increase your risk of more severe health problems, like stroke. At South Brooklyn Care in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, Elvira Neculiseanu, MD, and Aleksandre Toreli, MD, specialize in diagnosing and treating blood clot disorders. Call the office today to schedule a blood clot consultation, or book your appointment online.

What are blood clot disorders?

Blood clot disorders cause the platelets in your blood to clump together. Blood naturally clots to stop the bleeding from cuts and other wounds. But if your blood clots more than normal, it can affect your circulation and increase your risk of more severe medical problems.

Are blood clot disorders serious?

Yes. Without treatment, blood clot disorders increase your risk of many health problems, including:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs)
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Severe leg pain
• Difficulty walking

Blood clot disorders can also increase your risk of limb amputation.

What are some common blood clot disorders?

Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation are the two most common blood clot disorders. Both run in families of white American or European descent. They don’t always present noticeable symptoms but significantly increase the risk of your blood clotting.

How are blood clot disorders diagnosed?

Your South Brooklyn Care provider reviews your health charts and asks about your symptoms, including if you’ve had swelling in your extremities or chest pain. Next, they order several blood tests, including the prothrombin time (PT-INR) test and an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) test.

A PT-INR test checks how quickly your blood clots when taking the medication warfarin (Jantoven®, Coumadin®). If your blood clots too fast, your provider adjusts the dosage.

An aPTT test measures the time it takes for your blood to clot. Your provider recommends this test if you take prescription heparin.

How are blood clot disorders treated?

The South Brooklyn Care team treats blood clot disorders with anti-clotting medication. Depending on your needs, they could recommend:

• Aspirin
• Warfarin (a tablet you swallow)
• Heparin (a liquid medication administered intravenously)
• Low-molecule weight heparin (an injectable medication)
• Fondaparinux (Arixtra®, an injectable medication)
• Direct oral anticoagulants

Your doctor explains the risks and benefits of each medication. After an exam, a series of lab tests, and a discussion of your lifestyle, they make personalized treatment recommendations.

Are anticoagulants safe?

Anticoagulant medications are safe and usually well-tolerated, but they can present risks. Side effects include bleeding, headaches, and dizziness. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your South Brooklyn Care provider immediately.

Call South Brooklyn Care to receive treatment for a blood clot disorder today, or book your appointment online.