Venous thromboembolism during pregnancy. Clinical suspicion warrants evaluation.
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.
Refuerzo
Jerrie S
JS
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
Hechtman
Jill L
JL
Redman
Mark E
ME
Whitty
Janice E
JE
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