FAMILY HISTORY IS A FIRST-AID TOL IN PRIMARY CARE TO ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL RISK FOR VTE

VTE is a complex disorder that is affected by many interacting genetic and non-genetic factors. A positive family history of venous thrombosis may reflect the presence of genetic risk factors in a family. The use of family history for predicting the risk of disease and for personalizing preventive care has led, mainly in Western countries, to a marked increase of easy genetic tests has set-up to investigate the presence of sporadic mutations. The family history is an underused tool and barriers to the appropriate collection and use exist. There is compelling evidence that persons from a different genetic background often carry a significant different VTE risk, suggesting that geographically prevalent susceptibility alleles play a pivotal role. Knowledge of ancestry increases the ability of family history to capture information that allows for the identification of individuals at risk for VTE. Even in the "-omics" era, the family history still plays a very important role, being a proxy mainly for genetic risks of VTE. The family history can be used to allow for a risk stratification, leading to interventions to ameliorate the risk, as laboratory testing for thrombophilic risk factors and a consideration of tailored prophylactic treatment.