title: Value of a planned compression ultrasonography after an isolated superficial vein thrombosis: results from a prospective multicentre study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficiency of a systematically planned compression ultrasonography (SP-CUS) to detect venous thrombotic complications (VTCs) in patients with symptomatic isolated superficial vein thrombosis (SVT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicentre, cohort study (POST).
  
  
  METHODS
  As many as 537 patients with CUS-confirmed isolated SVT undergoing an SP-CUS 8-15 days after the initial CUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asymptomatic VTC (extension or recurrence of SVT, deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs) diagnosed by the SP-CUS and symptomatic thromboembolic complications (VTC and pulmonary embolism (PE)) up to 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VTC was suspected before or on the day of the SP-CUS in 18 patients (3.0%). Among the 519 asymptomatic patients (97%) undergoing SP-CUS, this revealed asymptomatic VTC in 12 patients (2.3%; 4 DVT, 4 SVT recurrences, 4 SVT extensions), none of whom subsequently experienced symptomatic thromboembolic events up to 3 months. Among the 507 patients with a normal SP-CUS, 29 (5.7%) presented symptomatic thromboembolic events during follow-up: 2 PE, 7 DVT, 9 SVT recurrences and 11 SVT extensions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the SP-CUS detected a few asymptomatic VTC, but failed to identify patients at risk of thromboembolic events during follow-up. Use of an SP-CUS was therefore neither efficient nor cost effective.
authors.affiliation: Thrombosis Research Group, EA3065, Univ Saint-Etienne, Jean Monnet, F-42023, Saint-Etienne, France. sara.quenet@chu-st-etienne.fr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quenet
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laroche
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quéré
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Décousus
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leizorovicz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy