title: Incidence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with erysipelas of the leg: prospective study of 30 cases in an emergency department.
abstract: The treatment of lower limb erysipelas is based on anti-streptococcal antibiotherapy. The indication of adjuvant anticoagulant therapy is not clear because of the lack of data about the incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in these patients. We performed a prospective study using a colour Doppler vein exploration combined with ultrasonography within the first 48 h, with evaluation of clinical probability of DVT according to the Wells score to assess the incidence of DVT in patients with erysipelas of the lower limb. Of 30 patients studied, 3 DVT were diagnosed: 2 distal DVT (posterior tibial vein) and 1 proximal DVT (superficial femoral vein) in patients having a clinical score > or = 3. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 2 cases. The incidence of DVTin our study was 10%.DVT should be considered in patients with erysipelas of the lower limb having a high pretest clinical probability.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Habib Thameur Hospital, 1008 Montfleury, Tunis, Tunisia. imen.zaghdoudi@rns.tn
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zaghdoudi
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezgui
authors.forename: Wathak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zouaoui
authors.forename: Takoua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marhbene
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jendoubi
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Fatimi
authors.forename: Nébiha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borsali-Falfoul
authors.forename: Mohamed Habib
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Daghfous
authors.forename: Zouhair
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jerbi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004886:Erysipelas / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*