Idiopathic venous thrombosis is associated with preclinical atherosclerosis

There is growing evidence that venous thrombotic and arterial atherosclerotic diseases are interrelated. This presumption is supported by the similar ethiopathogenesis, risk factors and clinical appearance of the two diseases. We investigated whether the prevalence of preclinical indicators of atherosclerosis is higher in patients with spontaneous venous thrombosis than in healthy subjects. Further, we studied the extent of preclinical deterioration of the arterial wall in different beds of the arterial system.

Forty seven patients of both sexes (mean age, 52.3+/-14.3 years) with idiopathic venous thrombosis and 44-age matched controls were studied. Using ultrasound, bifurcations of the carotid and femoral arteries were investigated and intima-media thickness plus the presence and thickness of atherosclerotic plaques were determined.

The intima-media was on average, and in all beds investigated, significantly thicker in patients than in controls (0.94 mm +/-0.29 vs. 0.71 mm +/-0.15, p<0.001). The prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques was higher in patients (33/47 vs. 15/44, p<0.001). Furthermore, the number of plaques per individual, the number of arterial segments involved, and total plaque thickness were significantly longer in patients than in controls.

The findings showed a close interrelationship between idiopathic venous thrombosis and preclinical atherosclerotic changes in different arterial territories. This could mean that in patients with primary arterial or venous disease, the arterial and venous vessel walls deteriorate simultaneously, and that common local or systemic factors influence the clinical appearance of either or both diseases.