Diagnosis and treatment of superficial vein thrombosis

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 232-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Bauersachs

SummarySuperficial vein thrombosis (SVT) is a common disease, characterized by an inflammatory- thrombotic process in a superficial vein. Typical clinical findings are pain and a warm, tender, reddish cord along the vein. Until recently, no reliable epidemiological data were available. The incidence is estimated to be higher than that of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) (1/1000). SVT shares many risk factors with DVT, but affects twice as many women than men and frequently occurs in varicose veins. Clinically, SVT extension is commonly underestimated, and patients may have asymptomatic DVT. Therefore, ultrasound assessment and exclusion of DVT is essential. Risk factors for concomitant DVT are recent hospitalization, immobilization, autoimmune disorders, age > 75 years, prior VTE, cancer and SVT in non-varicose veins. Even though most patients with isolated SVT (without concomitant DVT or PE) are commonly treated with anticoagulation for a median of 15 days, about 8% experience symptomatic thromboembolic complications within three months. Risk factors for occurrence of complications are male gender, history of VTE, cancer, SVT in a non-varicose vein or SVT involving the sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ). As evidence supporting treatment of isolated SVT was sparse and of poor quality, the large, randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled CALISTO trial was initiated assessing the effect of fondaparinux on symptomatic outcomes in isolated SVT. This study showed that, compared with placebo, 2.5 mg fondaparinux given for 45 days reduced the risk of symptomatic thromboembolic complications by 85% without increasing bleeding. Based on CALISTO and other observational studies, evidence-based recommendations can be made for the majority of SVT patients. Further studies can now be performed in higher risk patients to address unresolved issues.

1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 1240-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zeerleder ◽  
M. Schloesser ◽  
M. Redondo ◽  
W. A. Wuillemin ◽  
W. Engel ◽  
...  

SummaryTo further elucidate the debated role of hereditary FXII deficiency as a thrombophilic risk factor this follow-up study on 65 subjects out of 12 Swiss families was undertaken (follow-up: 6 yrs). Fifteen severely FXII deficient subjects (FXII:C < 1%), 35 partially FXII deficient subjects (FXII:C ≥ 1-59%), 10 with normal FXII values (FXII:C ≥ 70%), and 5 non-classifiable subjects (FXII:C ≥ 60-69%) were reevaluated. Eight subjects (4 severely and 3 partially FXII deficient, 1 non-classifiable) were newly enrolled. Four instances of deep vein thrombosis, one superficial vein thrombosis and one myocardial infarction were noted in 2 out of 19 severely FXII deficient subjects during a total life-time period of 866.6 patient-years. In 38 partially FXII deficient subjects (1862.8 patient-years) one ischemic cerebrovascular stroke and one superficial vein thrombosis were recorded in 2 individuals. The 10 subjects with normal FXII values (498.2 patient-years) remained thrombosis-free. One superficial vein thrombosis occurred in an unclassifiable woman. None of the 3 different FXII gene defects revealed in our patients was specifically associated with thromboembolic complications. Kaplan-Meier analysis of thrombosis-free survival suggests that hereditary partial (and probably severe) FXII deficiency does not constitute a thrombophilic condition.


2014 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benilde Cosmi ◽  
Massimo Filippini ◽  
Fausto Campana ◽  
Giampiero Avruscio ◽  
Angelo Ghirarduzzi ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (26) ◽  
pp. 4264-4269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel E. J. Roach ◽  
Willem M. Lijfering ◽  
Astrid van Hylckama Vlieg ◽  
Frans M. Helmerhorst ◽  
Frits R. Rosendaal ◽  
...  

Key Points Superficial vein thrombosis combined with an acquired thrombotic risk factor increases the risk of venous thrombosis 10- to 100-fold. If confirmed, these findings have important implications for the future prevention of venous thrombosis.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 2310-2310
Author(s):  
Alain Leizorovicz ◽  
Paolo Prandoni ◽  
Hervé Décousus

Abstract Abstract 2310 on behalf of the Steering Committee of the CALISTO Study. Background The CALISTO trial demonstrated the clinical benefit of anticoagulant therapy in patients with spontaneous isolated superficial-vein thrombosis (SVT) in the legs (n=3002).1 Compared with placebo, a 45-day once-daily subcutaneous treatment with fondaparinux 2.5 mg was associated with a 85% relative reduction in the risk of the composite of all-cause death and adjudicated symptomatic thromboembolic complications at day 47, a benefit that was maintained at 30-day follow-up (day 77) and was not associated with an increased bleeding risk. The benefit of fondaparinux was observed with the same magnitude on each thromboembolic component of the primary efficacy outcome, including symptomatic extension of SVT to the sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ). However, although all symptomatic extensions of the index SVT were reported and reviewed, only those within 3 cm of the SFJ were counted for the primary outcome. To better characterize the efficacy of fondaparinux we used a new composite efficacy outcome, including all symptomatic extensions of SVT, regardless of their distance from the SFJ. Methods The composite thromboembolic outcome of the original primary endpoint of the CALISTO trial included symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE), symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic extension of the index SVT to ≤3 cm (EXT ≤3 cm) from the SFJ, and symptomatic recurrence of SVT (composite outcome CO-1). In a post-hoc analysis, we additionally included in the composite outcome (CO-2) all symptomatic extensions of the index SVT regardless of their final distance from the SFJ (EXT >3 cm). All symptomatic thromboembolic events were confirmed by appropriate objective tests and reviewed by an independent, central, blinded adjudication committee. Results Overall, symptomatic EXT ≤3 cm and EXT >3 cm of index SVT at day 77 were reported in 59 (2.0%) and 68 patients (2.3%), respectively. Compared with placebo, fondaparinux significantly reduced at day 77 both the rate of CO-1, from 6.2% (93/1500) to 1.1% (17/1502; RR, 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11 to 0.31, p<0.001) and the rate of CO-2, from 9.4% (141/1500) to 1.9% (29/1502; RR, 0.21, 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.30, p<0.001). 1 Fondaparinux significantly lowered the rate of symptomatic EXT >3 cm from 3.7% (56/1500) to 0.8% (12/1501; RR, 0.21, 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.40, p<0.001), a reduction similar in magnitude to the reduction of EXT ≤3 cm. In the placebo group, 5/54 (9.3%) patients with a symptomatic EXT ≤3 cm and 5/56 (8.9%) of those with a symptomatic EXT >3 cm also experienced symptomatic PE or DVT during the course of the trial. In the fondaparinux group, none of the patients with SVT extension, reaching ≤3 cm or >3 cm from the SFJ, experienced symptomatic PE or DVT. Fondaparinux was associated with less use of medical resources, particularly in terms of surgery to treat SVT or need for anticoagulant therapy (Table). Conclusion Extension of the index SVT is a clinically relevant complication of the disease, regardless of the distance of the extension from the SFJ, and is associated with additional use of medical resources. Compared with placebo, fondaparinux reduced the rate of symptomatic thromboembolic complications in patients with spontaneous isolated SVT in the legs. 1 Decousus H, et al; CALISTO Study Group. N Engl J Med 2010;363:1222-32. Disclosures: Leizorovicz: BMS: Research Funding; Sanofi Aventis: Honoraria; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria. Off Label Use: Fondaparinux for the treatment of Superficial Vein Thrombosis, labelled in Europe. Prandoni:GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Décousus:GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 489-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Karathanos ◽  
Konstantinos Spanos ◽  
Vassileios Saleptsis ◽  
Aspasia Tsezou ◽  
Despina Kyriakou ◽  
...  

Objective To investigate which factors other than history of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) are associated with recurrent spontaneous SVT episodes in patients with varicose veins (VVs). Materials and methods Patients with a history of spontaneous SVT and VVs were followed up for a mean period of 55 months. Demographics, comorbidities, and thrombophilia screening test were analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the clinical–etiology–anatomy–pathophysiology classification. A multiple logistic regression analysis with the forward likelihood ratio method was undertaken. Results Thirteen patients out of 97 had a recurrence SVT episode during the follow-up period. All those patients were identified to have a thrombophilia defect. Protein C and S, antithrombin, and plasminogen deficiencies were more frequently present in patients without recurrence. Gene mutations were present in 38% in the nonrecurrence group and 77% in the recurrence group. After logistic regression analysis, patients with dislipidemia and mutation in prothrombin G20210A (FII) had an increased risk for recurrence by 5.4-fold and 4.6-fold, respectively. No deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism occurred. Conclusions Dislipidemia and gene mutations of F II are associated with SVT recurrence in patients with VVs. A selection of patients may benefit from anticoagulation in the short term and from VVs intervention in the long term.


2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ch. Karathanos ◽  
G. Sfyroeras ◽  
A. Drakou ◽  
N. Roussas ◽  
M. Exarchou ◽  
...  

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