title: Quality of life in patients with idiopathic subclavian vein thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic subclavian vein thrombosis (SVT) is a rare disease but these otherwise healthy patients often suffer from prolonged clinical manifestations. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the range and severity of thrombosis-related disability of the upper extremity in patients after an episode of documented idiopathic SVT in the long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The quality of life (QoL) of 37 patients with documented idiopathic SVT was assessed by two standardized questionnaires (DASH and SF 36). The DASH and SF-36 questionnaire each use a 100 point scale. 0 stands for uncompromised functioning, 100 for maximum limitation in the DASH, while in the SF-36 0 marks the lowest rating of QoL and 100 indicates the best imaginable quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up time was 120+/-80.1 months (range: 14 to 286 months). The mean DASH score was 10.7+/-12 and the mean scores for the SF-36 dimensions Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component System (MCS) were 52+/-9.3 and 46.3+/-9.5, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients suffering from idiopathic SVT report good overall QoL judged by the mean DASH and satisfactory QoL by the SF-36 score in the long-term follow-up. These patients deal well with their physical limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. dominik.berzaczy@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berzaczy
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puchner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minar
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bucek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*