Deep Venous Thrombosis and Ulcers of Lower Limbs: Ultrasound Findings in 156 Patients

Int J Angiol DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743408Venous ulcers (VUs) of lower limbs affect 1% of Western population. In most cases, ultrasounds show only superficial venous insufficiency (SVI), but a deep venous insufficiency (DVI) may also be present without a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). To assess SVI and DVI in DVT-positive and DVT-negative patients with VU, a retrospective cohort of 123 patients entered the study (50 male and 73 female, minimum age 29 years and maximum age 90 years, and mean 70.6 years). In 56 patients (45.5%), ulcer was on the right leg, in 52 (42.3%) on the left leg, and in 15 patients (12.2%), ulcer was bilateral, resulting in a total number of 138 limbs in the study. Sixty-six patients suffered DVT, while in 72 anamnesis was negative. Color duplex ultrasound was performed on both limbs, which revealed insufficiencies of superficial and/or deep veins in 18 limbs which had not been affected by an ulcer or a previous DVT. So the study was on 156 limbs. SVI were substantially overlapping in two groups (p-value = 0.593), while combined SVI and DVI was 72.5% in DVT positive limbs (p-value = 0.001). In 70% of cases with a femoral vein insufficiency (p-value = 0.036) or popliteal vein insufficiency (PVI) (p-value 0,003), a DVT history was present. Of 18 limbs, although not affected by ulcer or previous DVT, eight were positive for DVI (two femoral veins and six popliteal veins). In the patient with VU, the history of DVT is a strong predictor of ...
Source: International Journal of Angiology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research