Recommendations

Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand

Recommendations from the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand on thrombophilia, lymphoma, venous thromboembolism, leukaemia & thrombocytopenic purpura. Founded in 1998, The Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) seeks to promote, foster, develop and assist the study and application of information concerning haematology, and to promote improved standards, interest and research in all aspects of haematology.

1.

Do not conduct thrombophilia testing in adult patients under the age of 50 years unless the first episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE):

  • occurs in the absence of a major transient risk factors (surgery, trauma, immobility),
  • occurs in the absence of oestrogen-provocation,
  • occurs at an unusual site

Date reviewed: 30 November 2015

Thrombophilia testing is costly and can result in harm to patients if the duration of anticoagulation is inappropriately prolonged or if patients are incorrectly labelled as thrombophilic. Thrombophilia testing does not change the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurring in the setting of major transient VTE risk factors.

Supporting evidence
  • Chong LY, Fenu E, Stansby G, Hodgkinson S. Management of venous thromboembolic diseases and the role of thrombophilia testing: summary of NICE guidance. British Medical Journal 2012;344:e3979.
  • Wai KH, Hankey GJ, Eikelboom JW. Should adult patients be routinely tested for heritable thrombophilia after an episode of venous thromboembolism? Medical Journal of Australia 2011;195 (3):139-42.
  • Wu O, Robertson L, Twaddle S, Lowe GD, Clark P, Greaves M, Walker ID, Langhorne P, Brenkel I, Regan L, Greer I, Screening for thrombophilia in high-risk situations: systematic review and cost-effectiveness analysis. The Thrombosis: Risk and Economic Assessment of Thrombophilia Screening (TREATS) study. Health Technology Assessment 2006;10(11):1-110.
How this list was made How this list was made

The Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ) council, which includes 9 state representatives, convened to form the working group to produce a ‘top 5’ list for haematology.

Drawing on the list produced by the American and Canadian Societies of Haematology, the working group compiled a list of 5 clinical practices in haematology which may be overused, inappropriate or of limited effectiveness in a given clinical context.

This list was then sent out to all HSANZ members seeking feedback on whether these items fully captured the concerns of clinicians in an Australasian haematology medicine context and if not, whether any items should be omitted and/or new items added.

The criteria used to rate the practices were strength of evidence, significance in haematology and whether haematologists could make a difference in influencing the incidence of the practice in question.

Feedback on the items and the recommendations was received from 11 institutional haematology departments (following intradepartmental consultation) as well as an additional 10 individuals.

Based on these responses, the top 5 items were selected and finalised.


Download HSANZ Recommendations