Risk Factor For DVT Identified

Up to one quarter of all patients suffering from superficial vein thrombosis or clotting in those blood vessels residing close to the surface of the skin may also have a dangerous condition known as deep vein thrombosis. This is according to a July 2009 issue of Archives of Dermatology, a JAMA/Archives journal. The authors write that, "Superficial vein thrombosis is a common disease that most often affects the veins of the leg but can also be found in other locations."

Many of the risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are shared with other conditions. Among the risk factors are varicose veins, thrombophilia (where the blood clots too readily), taking the pill, trauma, lengthy period of immobility, or malignancy. In past years, not much interest was generated by the subject of superficial vein thrombosis, since the condition tends toward a benign course. But in recent times, an investigation of the condition has shown a heretofore unknown link to deep vein thrombosis and even thromboembolism, which occurs when a clot breaks up and causes a blockage within a blood vessel.

D-dimer Levels

A medical research team headed up by Barbara Binder, M.D., from the Medical University of Graz, in Austria, examined 46 patients including 32 women and 14 men, with superficial vein thrombosis during November of 2006 and June of 2007. The patients were administered imaging studies with color-coded duplex sonography as a means of determining the presence of superficial vein thrombosis and for excluding or detecting deep vein thrombosis. Participants were also questioned about their medical history in regard to clotting events, use of oral contraceptives or support hosiery, recent periods of long bed rest, and any active aggressive disease. The participants were also given laboratory tests including D-dimer levels, which measure protein fragments. These levels tend to be high in patients suffering from deep vein thrombosis.

Of those patients with superficial vein thrombosis, 24% were found to have deep vein thrombosis, though they tended to be asymptomatic. There was a tendency for DVT to occur in the same leg affected by superficial vein thrombosis at a rate of 73% of the patients. 9% of the patients had DVT in the opposite leg and 18% had DVT in both legs.

Researchers found that it was the calf muscles that were most often involved in DVT. In all the patients found to have DVT, the superficial vein thrombosis was located in the lower part of the leg while the D-dimer findings were always positive.

Concurrent Conditions

While superficial vein thrombosis is not thought of as a life-threatening condition and tends to have an uncomplicated course, this study proves that it's possible for deep vein thrombosis to be present at the same time as the more benign condition. DVT along with/or pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that travels toward the lungs) can end up generating serious complications. 

The authors conclude that where superficial vein thrombosis occurs in the lower leg, color-coded duplex sonography should be performed in the area from the groin down to the ankle to rule in or out the presence of deep vein thrombosis.