A retrospective analysis of patients treated for superficial vein thrombosis

The absolute risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) as well as extension and/or recurrence in superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) of the leg is considerable and underestimated. We retrospectively evaluated therapeutic management, thrombophilic risk factors and clinical outcome of SVT.

A database search was performed for consecutive patients with a suspected SVT of the lower extremities referred to our institution between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2004. The primary outcome measure was pain reduction at follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were progression or recurrence of SVT in the leg and the occurrence of (a)symptomatic DVT or symptomatic PE at follow-up.

In 73 patients follow-up information was present (3/76 non-evaluable patients). In 9/32 (28%) of the patients treated with carbasalate calcium, there was progression of SVT as assessed by ultrasonographic evaluation, compared with 3/11 (27%) in the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) group and 3/6 (50%) in the no treatment group. DVT was diagnosed in 5/36 (14%) of the patients treated with carbasalate calcium compared with 1/13 (1%) in the LMWH and 1/3 (33%) in the other treatment groups at follow-up. Furthermore, 34 were tested for thrombophilic defects, 27 of whom had one or more thrombophilic defect.

The results of our study show that SVT may be prone to venous thromboembolism and therefore needs to be treated or carefully followed up.