Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
A Multicenter MRI Protocol for the Evaluation and Quantification of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Published on: June 2, 2015
Pediatric venous thromboembolism: incidence and patient profile in a single Brazilian institution
Liana Ariel de Siqueira Lira1, Jorge David Aivazoglou Carneiro2, Maria do Carmo Menezes Bezerra Duarte1
1Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Insights
Pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence was 19.9 per 10,000 hospitalizations. Central venous catheters and infection were key risk factors in this pediatric cohort.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Thrombosis Research
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnoses have significantly increased.
- Understanding the incidence and characteristics of pediatric VTE is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pediatric VTE patients in a Brazilian hospital.
- Determine the incidence of hospital-associated thrombosis.
- Describe the biological and clinical characteristics of these patients.
Main Methods:
- Observational, cross-sectional study conducted at a Brazilian quaternary hospital.
- Included hospitalized patients under 18 with confirmed VTE.
- Exclusion criteria: arterial or chronic thrombosis.
Main Results:
- Thirty-nine pediatric patients were evaluated; incidence was 19.9 cases per 10,000 pediatric hospitalizations.
- Median age at diagnosis was 4 months; 66.7% were asymptomatic, diagnosed incidentally.
- Key risk factors included central venous catheter (89.7%) and infection (89.7%); 48.7% had thrombogenic comorbidities like congenital heart disease.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of pediatric VTE in this study was lower than in developed countries.
- Central venous catheter use and infection were prominent risk factors.
- The patient cohort was characterized by a higher frequency of newborns and individuals with heart disease.
Background:
As the diagnosis of Pediatric venous thromboembolism has dramatically increased in recent decades, this study aims to evaluate these patients, determining the incidence and describing their biological and clinical characteristics.
Methods:
An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at a Brazilian quaternary hospital between January 2022 and February 2023. Under 18-year-old hospitalized patients with a confirmed diagnosis of venous thromboembolism were included, while those with arterial or chronic thrombosis were excluded. Data on biological and clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment were evaluated. A descriptive data analysis was performed and the incidence of hospital-associated thrombosis was calculated.
Results:
Thirty-nine pediatric patients were evaluated. The incidence of hospital-associated thrombosis was 19.9 cases per 10,000 pediatric hospitalizations. Median age at diagnosis was four months (range: 12 days-17 years). Most of the patients (66.7%) were asymptomatic, with venous thromboembolism being diagnosed incidentally. In all cases, at least one risk factor was identified and in 74.6% of cases four or more factors were present. The principal risk factors were the presence of a central venous catheter (89.7%) and infection (89.7%). Thrombogenic comorbidities, particularly congenital heart disease, were present in 48.7% of patients.
Conclusions:
The incidence of venous thromboembolism found in the present study was lower than rates reported in developed countries. The principal characteristics of this sample were a greater frequency of central venous catheter and infection as risk factors, and the fact that the cases consisted mainly of newborns and individuals with heart disease.
