Virchow triad refers to the factors which can promote thrombosis, these are useful to consider when thinking about the possible causes in a particular situation. They are:
- hypercoagulability
- endothelial injury
- disturbance of flow
It is still believed that the simultaneous presence of at least two factors is a prerequisite for thrombosis to occur 2.
This list of examples of causes of each is not intended to be exhaustive 2:
- hypercoagulability
- primary thrombophilia
- acquired thrombophilia
- malignancy
- myeloproliferative disorders
- pregnancy, OCP, HRT
- obesity
- nephrotic syndrome
- endothelial injury
- myocardial infarction
- cardiac valve disease
- endotoxins
- vasculitis
- ulcerated atheromas
- iatrogenic: venous catheters, etc.
- disturbance of flow: slow and/or turbulent
- iatrogenic: venous catheters, etc.
- immobility
- vascular stasis: varicose veins, arterial aneurysms
- chemotherapy
- sepsis
History and etymology
Although named for Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), who undoubtedly published much on thrombosis, there is absolutely no evidence that he ever mentioned a triad of prothrombotic factors. Indeed, no mention of "Virchow triad" has been found in the literature prior to 1950 2! This is a good example of the Stigler law of eponymy.
Interestingly Virchow also coined the words thrombosis and embolism 2.