title: Thromboembolic complications following a first isolated episode of superficial vein thrombosis: a cross-sectional retrospective study.
abstract: Superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) may be associated with complications such as venous thromboembolism (VTE) and recurrent SVT. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors among patients with a first isolated episode of SVT (index SVT) involving upper and lower extremities and to estimate the prevalence of VTE complications within 1 year of index SVT. Retrospective chart review of electronic records at Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin identified 381 subjects with a first isolated SVT diagnosis (male/female: 170/211; median age 59.4 years). Patients were stratified based on whether they did (n = 44; 11.5 %) or did not (n = 337; 88.5 %) experience VTE complications and whether they did (n = 25; 6.6 %) or did not (n = 356; 93.4 %) experience pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) within 1 year of index SVT. There were 49 complications among 44 patients; these included DVT (n = 18, 36.7 %), propagation of SVT (n = 18, 36.7 %), PE (n = 9, 18.4 %), new SVT at different location (n = 3, 6.1 %), and recurrent SVT (n = 1, 2.0 %). Univariate analysis of all VTE complications identified seven potential risk factors and similar analysis of PE/DVT complications identified eight potential risk factors, with six common risk factors identified in both analyses. Multivariate analysis identified indwelling venous catheter 30 days prior to SVT (p = 0.044), cancer history with treatment in the previous year (p = 0.001), and non-surgical trauma 7 days prior to SVT (p < 0.001) as independent risk factors for PE/DVT complications. Independent risk factors identified in the current study may convey greater risk for VTE complications, especially PE/DVT, following an initial isolated SVT episode.
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Departments of Graduate Medical Education and Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32614, USA.
authors: Lauren N
authors: LN
authors: Bell
authors: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI, USA.
authors: Richard L
authors: RL
authors: Berg
authors: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI, USA.
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Schmelzer
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Departments of Graduate Medical Education and Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32614, USA.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Liang
authors: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI, USA.
authors: Joseph J
authors: JJ
authors: Mazza
authors: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, WI, USA.
authors: Rajan
authors: R
authors: Kanth
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Departments of Graduate Medical Education and Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32614, USA.
authors: Christopher L
authors: CL
authors: Bray
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Departments of Graduate Medical Education and Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32614, USA.
authors: Calixto B
authors: CB
authors: Zaldivar
authors: Internal Medicine Residency Program, Departments of Graduate Medical Education and Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32614, USA. steven.yale@hcahealthcare.com.
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Yale
mesh_terms: D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications
keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; Pulmonary embolism; Risk factors; Superficial vein thrombosis; Venous thromboembolism