Deep vein thrombosis among injecting drug users in Sheffield.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the proportion of patients testing positive for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who are injecting drug users (IDUs), and examine differences in the investigation and management of this group compared with non-IDUs.


METHODS
Analysis of data collected from emergency department records and a review of patient notes.


RESULTS
All patients in this study who were known to inject recreational drugs tested positive for DVT on Doppler ultrasound scan.


CONCLUSIONS
IDUs should be considered at high risk of developing DVT and should be investigated accordingly.
Cooke
V A
VA
The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK. vic.cooke@sth.nhs.uk [corrected]
Fletcher
A K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
D000925:Anticoagulants