title: Changes in lipid metabolism and extension of venous thromboembolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are common diseases with a vast number of acquired and congenital risk factors. Disorders of the lipid metabolism are not established risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) so far. However, in recent literature, associations between VTE and the metabolic syndrome, especially with elevated lipid parameters, have been described. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the extension of VTE and changes in the lipid profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 178 VTE patients in our study; 59 patients had isolated PE, 39 patients had isolated DVT of the leg and 80 patients had both (DVT and PE). Concerning PE, we distinguished between massive and submassive PE. We evaluated plasma lipids and lipoproteins in PE and DVT patients as well as in massive and submassive PE patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PE patients had higher levels of plasma triglycerides [median (interquartile range): 162 (109-254) vs. 136.5 (96.5-162) mg/dl, p = 0.047] and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; 52.1 ± 17.2 vs. 63.9 ± 22.7 mg/dl, p = 0.004) than DVT patients. Furthermore, PE patients were significantly older than DVT patients (59.6 ± 16.9 vs. 52.2 ± 15.5 years, p = 0.02). We were not able to find differences in lipid parameters in patients with massive PE compared to those with submassive PE. However, patients with massive PE were more obese than patients with submassive PE (body mass index 29.1 ± 4.6 vs. 26.9 ± 4.9, p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipid parameters and lipoproteins differ between DVT and PE patients. PE patients had higher triglyceride and lower HDL-C levels compared with DVT patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belaj
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hackl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brodmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides