Montpellier, France
What is the risk of deep vein thrombosis and venous thromboembolism after an episode of isolated superficial vein thrombosis?
This is a question which has needed an answer and researchers from the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Investigation Centre, Montpellier University Hospital, EA 2992, Montpellier University, Montpellier, France have published a research paper to help answer this question.
Jean Philippe Galanaud and colleagues published an article in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 20 March 2017 entitled Long Term Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Recurrence After Isolated Superficial Vein Thrombosis.
The aim of their study was to "determine prospectively the risk and type of venous thromboembolic (VTE) recurrence after isolated superficial vein thrombosis and compare it with that of proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT)".
The authors looked at the "incidence and the type of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence (iSVT/DVT/PE) of patients with a first objectively confirmed iSVT without cancer (n=285) and compared this to patients with a first proximal DVT without cancer (n=262)".
The researchers concluded from this study that "in patients with a first iSVT without cancer, after stopping anticoagulants, the incidence of deep-VTE recurrence is twice lower than that of proximal DVT patients but overall risk of recurrence is similar. A saphenian junction i(saphenofemoral) nvolvement seems to influence the risk of deep VTE recurrence whereas varicose vein status has no/low impact on VTE recurrence".
The full article can be purchased online from Wiley Online Library @ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jth.13679/abstract
Dr. Karamanoukian's note: This is an excellent and timely study. In essence, the researchers have shown that in patients without cancer, isolated superficial vein thrombosis NOT involving the saphenofemoral junction does not infer an increased risk for future development of venous thromboembolism. I highly recommend this article to phlebologist who take care of patients with isolated superficial vein thrombosis.