Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities in Sudanese women

In this study, we aimed to analyze the genetic and acquired risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities among Sudanese women.

A total of 136 women were enrolled in the study, including 75 DVT patients and 61 healthy controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a specific questionnaire. Citrated blood samples of patients and controls were used for coagulation assays, and DNAs isolated from EDTA-blood samples were used for the detection of Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations using multiplex polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Both gene mutations were found to be absent from all 136 subjects, and therefore did not account for the incidence of DVT in Sudanese women. Of the 75 DVTs, 70 (93.3%) were localized in the left leg and 5 (6.7%) in the right leg. Additionally, 84% of the DVTs were proximal and 16% were distal. Among the 75 patients, 22 (29.33%) were postpartum, 7 (9.33%) were pregnant, and 46 (61.33%) were nonpregnant. Levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and D-dimer were significantly higher in DVT patients than in healthy controls (P<0.0001).

Risk factors that most significantly affected patients in the 18-45 years age group were pregnancy and oral contraceptive usage, whereas those that most significantly affected patients in the 66-90 years age group were immobility, heart disease, and history of DVT.