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Data support predictive significance of superficial vein thrombosis
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Researchers found that a history of superficial vein thrombosis may be predictive of venous and arterial thrombotic events and these findings may play an important role in clinical decision making regarding anticoagulation, according to a recent study in Blood.
“It is essential that clinicians realize the severity of superficial vein thrombosis, both in the acute phase and in the long run. In the former situation, anticoagulant treatment probably prevents serious complications such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism; for the latter, patients with a history of [superficial vein thrombosis] will need to receive strict anticoagulant prophylaxis when they encounter a high-risk situation for venous thromboembolism (eg, surgery or plaster cast),” Suzanne C. Cannegieter, MD, PhD, of the department of clinical epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands, told HemOnc Today.
Suzanne C. Cannegieter
Researchers examined a nationwide population using data from all Danish hospitals recorded in The Danish National Registry of Patients to calculate the extent of the risk of subsequent deep venous and arterial thrombotic events in patients with SVT. The study included patients with a first-time diagnosis of SVT and a mean age of 61.7 years between 1980 and 2012 (n = 10,973). A comparison cohort from the general Danish population including 515,067 people was also examined. The cohorts were matched on age, gender and calendar year. About 60% of the subjects were women in each cohort.
Researchers calculated the rate of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), acute myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and mortality in both the patients with SVT and in the comparison cohort during a 7-year median follow-up.
Researchers found that the highest risk for these outcomes was during the first 3 months after SVT. During this time frame, a risk of 2.5% for subsequent DVT and of 0.9% for PE was found in patients who presented with an isolated SVT. In addition, the risk of subsequent acute MI, ischemic stroke and death was slightly higher in patients with SVT compared with the general population.
“While our study sheds light on the pathophysiology and natural course of SVT, it also underscores the clinical importance of anticoagulant treatment to prevent further extension of the superficial thrombus and development of a subsequent DVT or PE,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures. The study was funded by support from Aarhus University Research Foundation.
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