Four cases venous thromboembolism associated with olanzapine

Abstract

We reported four cases of spontaneous venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with olanzapine treatment during a recent period at our internal department. Genetic and acquired risk factors of VTE were assessed.

We suppose that hypoactivity, stasis of the blood, changes in blood coagulability, obesity, and hyperhomocysteinemia are possible mechanisms of VTE associated with use of olanzapine. Several other important VTE risk factors as a prolonged hospitalization or inherited/acquired thrombophilia are relatively common in the patient population regardless of the medication.