Frequency of thromboembolic complications in patients with acute pneumonia and pyelonephritis.
Infectious complications increase the risk of postoperative thromboembolism. In order to assess the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in acute infections not associated with surgery, 36 patients with acute pneumonia or pyelonephritis were evaluated regarding development of DVT with the 125I-fibrinogen uptake test with confirmative phlebography. 1/15 patients with pyelonephritis and 1/21 patients with pneumonia developed DVT. No fatal pulmonary embolism was seen. The frequency of DVT was thus 6%. This low figure may be due to early mobilization of the patients and does not motivate routine anticoagulant prophylaxis against thromboembolic complications in patients with acute infections.
Wallmark
E
E
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Lindblad
B
B
Bergqvist
D
D
Cronberg
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications*; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000150:complications*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications*