title: Superficial vein thrombosis and hypercoagulable states: the evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the demographic features of superficial vein thrombosis and its relation with the occurrence of hypercoagulable states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were gathered from pertinent papers using a MEDLINE search and an exhaustive bibliography review. Studies were considered only when they contained material to superficial vein thrombosis and hypercoagulable states.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference among the patients and the methods used made the comparison difficult and did not allow a pool analysis of the data. Superficial vein thrombosis is a common condition, and its prevalence is underestimated. Several risk factors are associated with superficial vein thrombosis, and a strong relation was seen with certain thrombophilias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although superficial vein thrombosis most often is perceived as benign, it can coexist with hypercoagulable states. In patients with spontaneous onset of superficial vein thrombosis, there should be a lower threshold in testing for hypercoagulable states.
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. lleon@lumc.edu
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Nicos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Labropoulos
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*