The family of a student who died from deep vein thrombosis are calling for a blood test to be made available to spot those at risk of the potentially fatal condition.
The family of a student who died from deep vein thrombosis are calling for a blood test to be made available to spot those at risk of the potentially fatal condition.
Katie McPherson died in 2003 after she was sent home by staff at two hospitals and died on her way to a third.
Her parents and brother are campaigning for people either as babies or teenagers, to be offered blood tests to screen for the factor V leiden gene, which increases the risk of DVT by up to five times.
Around 5% of the population is believed to carry factor V leiden, a mutation that makes them more liable to clotting.
The 23-year-old, from Langbank in Renfrewshire, was tested by two doctors at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and discharged and told to see her GP who prescribed painkillers.
Two days later, she was sent home from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and told to take the drugs.
Four days later, she became ill and her mother called an ambulance to take her to Inverclyde Royal Infirmary in Greenock, but she died on the way.
The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has upheld complaints against both Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital and called for nationwide guidance on the management of suspected DVT.
Ms McPherson's parents, Gordon and Jane, and brother Steven have been campaigning for better information and treatment for DVT sufferers and have launched an online petition with the Scottish Parliament calling for the blood tests.
Steven has been tested and is at an increased risk of DVT. He said: "I approached our GP and asked if I could be tested for the gene. It was a simple blood test and it took a few weeks for the results and I was told I was positive. It is not a problem unless I am planning to go on any long-haul flights."
The family believe if it was recognised that certain people were more likely to contract DVT, then treatment could be targeted more effectively.
Mr McPherson said: "Since the death of our daughter, we have learned that some people are more susceptible to DVT than others.
"Like cancer, this susceptibility can be hereditary. Doctors must take this into consideration when prescribing contraceptive pills, HRT, and other medication which has a tendency to induce a DVT.
"Education of the general public is essential to highlight the signs and symptoms of DVT. The test consists of a simple blood test, which we feel should be available on request.
"Unfortunately, most people are under the illusion DVT is only associated with long-haul flights. The test would highlight if an individual has a higher tendency to develop a DVT on flights, long car journeys, or by taking (certain) medication."
Professor Mike Greaves, head of the school of medicine at Aberdeen University, a leading expert on thrombosis, said a screening programme would be costly and he was not convinced it would be effective.
He said: "It sounds very reasonable to want to screen for factor V, but the problem is what to do with the information. You could advise women not to take the combination contraceptive pill, which is the most effective method, and end up with unwanted pregnancies. You could prescribe an anti-coagulant drug like warfarin which thins the blood which is a risk in itself."
While he could not put a cost on the exercise, he did say that people would be labelled with a condition they could not do very much about."
A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is currently reviewing all Scottish initiatives aimed at preventing DVT, including existing patient information leaflets."
She added that the UK-wide National Screening Committee had looked at the value of gene screening in 2000 and again in 2006 concluding that there was no benefit from routine testing for this gene. Also, genetic testing in babies was not considered ethical where there was no clear benefit as DVT mainly affected adults.
