Some interesting research has emerged from a study in The
Netherlands that links asthma to venous thromboembolism events such as
pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. The relationship between pulmonary
embolism and asthma was considerably higher than deep vein thrombosis and while
there was a positive correlation, it cannot really be deemed to be clinically
significant so there is no association.
The association between asthma and pulmonary embolism is
significant, being 4 times higher in moderate asthma sufferers and almost 9
times more common in severe asthma sufferers.
It has been suggested by specialists not
associated with the study that patients who have a suboptimal response to
conventional asthma therapies should be screened for pulmonary coagulation as a
matter of course. Patients with prednisone dependent asthma who are immobilised
during an attack should be administered with a thromboprophylaxis.