Causes
Phlebitis is often caused by:
- Prolonged bed rest following an operation
- Paralysis
- Use of estrogen
- Lack of exercising your legs over an extended period of time (eg, long airplane trips)
- Prior episodes of phlebitis
- Trauma to the lower extremity
- Cancer malignancy—Certain cancers may put you at risk for a clotting condition. This condition can lead to venous thrombosis. Cancers such as pancreatic , stomach , prostate , and colon cancer, as well as acute leukemia are known to increase clots.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chance of developing phlebitis:
- Sitting for long periods of time, such as on an airplane or being confined to bed rest
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Health conditions that increase the risk of blood clots
- These include cancers particularly of the pancreas which is associated with recurrent phlebitis
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Blood disorders which increase the clotting potential of blood
- These include Protein C deficiency due to Factor V Leiden (hereditary blood coagulation disorder)
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
