title: Venous duplex imaging follow-up of acute symptomatic deep vein thrombosis of the leg.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of resolution of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the leg, by means of duplex imaging, in patients with symptoms during a 6-month period after initial diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three limbs in 69 patients with acute DVT diagnosed by duplex imaging received conventional heparin and warfarin treatment and underwent subsequent duplex studies 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the initial diagnosis. The objectives of the study were to document (1) the rate or complete resolution of DVT, (2) the proportion of unstable, floating thrombi, and (3) the development of chronic damage as a result of vessel wall scarring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of normalization of DVT 6 months after diagnosis was 78% in the common femoral vein, 70% in the superficial femoral vein, 75% in the popliteal vein, and 70% in the calf veins examined at the scheduled intervals. Twenty-six percent of thrombi were considered unstable on the baseline examination. The average number of days necessary for these thrombi to become stable was 10.7 days. Damage to the vessel wall or valves was documented in 44% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rates of resolution of DVT were similar for the different veins of the leg studied. There was a high proportion of unstable thrombi, which present a high potential risk of embolization. Serial duplex scanning after DVT renders important information with regard to thrombus resolution, propagation, and attachment to the vein wall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Glenbrook Hospital, Glenview, IL 60025.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Caprini
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Arcelus
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Size
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laubach
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Traverso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coats
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Finke
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reyna
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012074:Remission Induction; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin