INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease. The incidence rises markedly with increasing age; over the age of 75, the annual incidence reaches 1 per 100. BACKGROUND: Besides major risk factors (surgery, trauma and acute medical illness), four risk factors have to be taken into account in the management of VTE: increasing age, cancer, previous history of VTE and pregnancy. To date, with the exception of the antiphospholipid syndrome and antithrombin deficiency, "thrombophilias" do not appear to change the management of VTE. VIEWPOINTS: "Thrombophilias" are useful tools for understanding the pathophysiology of VTE. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify new biological anomalies and their impact on the risk of VTE. Recently, links between VTE and atherosclerosis have been demonstrated, leading to new concept of pan-vascular disease and prevention. CONCLUSIONS: VTE is a major public health problem. The knowledge of VTE risk factors is of major importance in identifying high-risk patients and in reducing the incidence and mortality of VTE.