title: Venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Clinical suspicion warrants evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence, signs, symptoms and clinical outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted from 1997 to 2001 including women with a diagnosis or suspicion of VTE during pregnancy. Demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with a suspicion for VTE were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 70 patients assessed for evidence of a VTE, 25.7% (n = 18) had confirmatory diagnostic testing. There was no difference in the clinical signs or symptoms between groups with a pulmonary embolism (PE) compared to those without a PE. For those patients with negative diagnostic testing (n = 52), an alternative diagnosis was confirmed in 55.8%. Of the patients with positive diagnostic testing, 30% had a concurrent condition contributing to their pulmonary symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of definitive signs and symptoms of thromboembolic disease during pregnancy warrants complete evaluation of patients clinically suspected of having VTE.
authors: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Hutzel Hospital, 4707 St. Antoine Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. jrefuerz@med.wayne.edu
authors: Jerrie S
authors: JS
authors: Refuerzo
authors: Jill L
authors: JL
authors: Hechtman
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Redman
authors: Janice E
authors: JE
authors: Whitty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008499:Medical Records; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology