title: Current management strategies and long-term clinical outcomes of upper extremity venous thrombosis.
abstract: Essentials Few data exist on outcome of upper extremity deep and superficial vein thrombosis (UEDVT and UESVT). We followed 102 and 55 patients with UEDVT or UESVT, respectively, for a median of 3.5 years. Risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism was low in both diseases, and the mortality high. Postthrombotic symptoms were infrequent and cancer patients had a higher risk of recurrent VTE.
  
  
  
  Background There is scant information on the optimal management and clinical outcome of deep and superficial vein thrombosis of the upper extremity (UEDVT and UESVT). Objectives To explore treatment strategies and the incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), mortality, postthrombotic symptoms, and bleeding in patients with UEDVT and UESVT and to assess the prognosis of cancer patients with UEDVT. Patients/methods Follow-up of patients with UEDVT or UESVT, who were enrolled previously in a diagnostic management study. Results We followed 102 and 55 patients with UEDVT and UESVT, respectively, both for a median of 3.5 years. Anticoagulant treatment was started in 100 patients with UEDVT (98%) and in 40 (73%) with UESVT. Nine patients with UEDVT (9%) developed recurrent VTE, 26 (26%) died, 6 (8%) of 72 patients had moderate postthrombotic symptoms, and 5 (5%) experienced major bleeding. One patient with UESVT had a recurrent VTE, 18 (33%) died, none had moderate postthrombotic symptoms, and none had major bleeding. Of the cancer patients with UEDVT, 18% had recurrent VTE vs. 7.5% in non-cancer patients (adjusted hazard ratio 2.2, 95%CI 0.6-8.2). The survival rate was 50% in cancer patients with UEDVT vs. 60% in those without (adjusted HR 0.8, 95%CI 0.4-1.4). Conclusions The risk of recurrent VTE was low in patients with UEDVT, and negligible for UESVT. Mortality was high for both diseases. Postthrombotic symptoms were infrequent and mild. Anticoagulant therapy of UEDVT carried a substantial risk of major bleeding. Cancer patients had a significant risk of recurrent VTE.
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: S M
authors: SM
authors: Bleker
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: van Es
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kleinjan
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: H R
authors: HR
authors: Büller
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: P W
authors: PW
authors: Kamphuisen
authors: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Aggarwal
authors: Division 'Thrombosis Research' and Division 'Angiology', Dresden University Clinic, Dresden, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Beyer-Westendorf
authors: University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Camporese
authors: University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Cosmi
authors: Abteilung für Angiologie, Medical University, Graz, Austria.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Gary
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Company-Institute for Hospitalization and Care Scientific - Arcispedale Santa Maria Nova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ghirarduzzi
authors: University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kaasjager
authors: USC Immunoematologia e Medicina Transfusionale, Emostasi e Trombosi, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Lerede
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Marschang
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Meijer
authors: Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: H-M
authors: HM
authors: Otten
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Università 'G. D'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Porreca
authors: Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Righini
authors: Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Verhamme
authors: Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: van Wissen
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.|Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Università 'G. D'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Di Nisio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D056824:Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D
keywords: hemorrhage; mortality; neoplasms; recurrence; therapy; upper extremity deep vein thrombosis