Literature review of distal deep vein thrombosis

Managing anticoagulation and thromboembolic risk in cryptogenic stroke associated with patent foramen ovale

Cryptogenic stroke (CS) in young adults may be associated with the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This case report presents a woman in her 40s admitted with sudden left hemiplegia. Imaging confirmed an ischaemic stroke in the right middle cerebral artery territory and occlusion of the right internal carotid artery. Further investigations identified a large PFO associated with an atrial septal aneurysm. An in-depth assessment revealed a distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Initial anticoagulation therapy was interrupted due to severe metrorrhagia, necessitating the placement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Subsequent extensive thrombosis of the IVC led to initiation of low molecular weight heparin followed by long-term direct oral anticoagulants. This case highlights the complexity of managing CS with PFO, emphasising the importance of thorough aetiological evaluation to distinguish pathogenic from incidental PFO, and the need for a personalised and multidisciplinary therapeutic strategy to balance thromboembolic and haemorrhagic risks effectively.

Combination of age-adjusted d-dimer, platelet distribution width and other factors predict preoperative deep venous thrombosis in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture

PURPOSE

This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify factors associated with preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, and to investigate whether combining these factors could improve the ability to predict DVT.

METHOD

Medical records and laboratory test results were reviewed patients presenting with a femoral neck fracture and receiving routine chemoprophylaxis for DVT between January 2020 and December 2023 in a tertiary referral, university-affiliated hospital. Preoperative DVT was confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or CT venography. Demographic, injury, comorbidity, and laboratory variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate approaches. The performance of combined predictive factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 499 patients included, 47 (9.4%) were diagnosed with a preoperative DVT. In the univariate analysis, five variables were found to be statistically significant, including alcohol consumption (P = 0.017), history of renal disease (P < 0.001), elevated D-dimer level (both traditional and age-adjusted cut-off used) (P = 0.007 or < 0.003), increased platelet distribution width (PDW) (P < 0.001) and reduced albumin in continuous or categorical variable (P = 0.027, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed all except alcohol consumption as independent predictors (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that combining these four significant variables with age improved the ability to predict preoperative DVT, with an area under the curve of 0.749 (95% CI: 0.676-0.822, P < 0.001), sensitivity of 0.617, and specificity of 0.757.

CONCLUSION

This study identified several factors associated with preoperative DVT, and combining them demonstrated improved performance in predicting DVT, which can facilitate risk assessment, stratification and improved management in clinical practice.

Efficacy of three predictive models for deep vein thrombosis in patients with lumbar disc herniation

OBJECTIVE

To develop predictive models for assessing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk among lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and evaluate their performances.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 798 LDH patients treated at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2017 to December 2023. The patients were divided into a training set (n = 558) and a test set (n = 240) using computer-generated random numbers in a ratio of 7:3. Patients without DVT in the training set were categorized as the non-DVT group (n = 463), while those diagnosed with DVT were the DVT group (n = 95). Univariate analysis was performed to compare clinical data between the two groups. Data with statistical significance were used for the development of a Logistic regression model, Gradient boosting model, and Random Forest model. Model performance was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calibration curve assessment.

RESULTS

In the training set, univariate analysis revealed significant differences in age, platelets (PLT), cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen (FIB), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), and thrombin time (TT) between the non-DVT group and the DVT group (all P<0.05). Predictive models were constructed based on these indicators. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) in the training set were as follows (in descending order): Random Forest model (0.978) > Gradient boosting model (0.943) > Logistic regression model (0.919). In the test set, the AUCs were: Random Forest model (0.952) > Gradient boosting model (0.941) > Logistic regression model (0.908). The DeLong test indicated that the AUC of the Random Forest model in the training set was significantly higher than that of the Logistic regression model (P<0.05); however, no significant difference was observed between the other two models. Calibration curves demonstrated that the predictive probabilities from all three models closely aligned with actual DVT incidence in both sets.

CONCLUSION

The Logistic regression model, Gradient boosting model, and Random Forest model constructed in this study exhibit good predictive value for the occurrence of DVT in LDH patients, aiding in the optimization of clinical management of clinical management. Among them, the Random Forest model performed the best of the three.

Relationship of the Novel Scoring System for Lower Extremity Venous Thrombosis with Pulmonary Embolism

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE

To develop a new scoring system, the "Lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasound scoring system" (LEVDUS), to predict the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) localization in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included 182 patients aged ≥ 18 years. We used scoring according to thrombosis localization and stage in Doppler US. Patients with PE were divided into three categories based on the pulmonary artery (PA) location on CT pulmonary angiography. LEVDUS values were compared according to the PE classification. The threshold value was determined for the diagnosis of PE in the receiver operating characteristics analysis. Factors affecting the diagnosis of PE were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 182 patients were included (female patients: 55.5% [101/182]). The median age of the patients was 68 (IQR, 56-77). The rates of DVT and PE were 35.2% (64/182) and 52.7% (96/182), respectively. Although the median LEVDUS and d-dimer values in the subsegmental PE group were higher, LEVDUS was statistically significant but d-dimer was not (p = 0.005 and p = 0.022, respectively). In addition, both LEVDUS and d-dimer median values in the other PE groups were statistically significantly higher than the non-PE group (p < 0.001). The cut-off value for the diagnosis of PE was LEVDUS≥ 2.5. LEVDUS was 1.2-fold higher for the presence of PE.

CONCLUSION

LEVDUS provides useful information in predicting the presence of PE in patients and provides a common diagnostic language between radiologists and emergency or clinic physicians.

Optimizing hemostasis in HoLEP surgery: retrospective review of selective bipolar plasmakinetic technology guided by bladder irrigation fluid color

OBJECT

To evaluate the effectiveness of selective bipolar plasmakinetic technology based on bladder irrigation fluid color on hemostasis in HoLEP surgwery METHODS: A total of 209 patients who underwent HoLEP surgery from October 2021 to July 2023 were included and divided into Hemostasis Management Group and control group. the color of the irrigation fluid was categorized into 5 levels and the bipolar plasmakinetic technology was applied when the color came to level 4 or up. The following was analyzed: postoperative use of balloon compression, blood loss, irrigation time, length of hospital stay, and the number of a second operation.

RESULTS

Only 4 patients in Hemostasis Management Group required postoperative urinary catheter balloon compression, while there are 15 in the control group(p=0.03). The average irrigation time for patients in the HM Group with bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis was 21.88±13.76 hours, compared to that in patients with catheter balloon compression(p=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Based on the bladder irrigation color chart, the selective application of bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis led to a significant reduction in the number of patients requiring postoperative bladder catheter balloon compression. Secondly, the irrigation time of patients who underwent bipolar plasmakinetic hemostasis also decreased.

Circ-USP9X accelerates deep vein thrombosis after fracture by acting as a miR-148b-3p sponge and upregulates SRC kinase signaling inhibitor 1

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to elucidate the role of circUSP9X (Circular RNA Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 9 X-Linked) in the development of venous thrombosis in the lower extremities.

METHODS

An animal model of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and a hypoxic model of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) treated with Cobalt (II) Chloride (CoCl2) were developed. The expression levels of circUSP9X, microRNA-148b-3p (miR-148b-3p), and SRC Kinase Signaling Inhibitor 1 (SRCIN1) were quantified using quantitative reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction and Western blot analysis. Cell cytotoxicity, viability, apoptosis, and inflammation in HUVECs were assessed via Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, MTT assay, flow cytometry, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and Western blot, respectively. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining were employed for histopathological examination of the venous tissues in the animal model. The interaction between circUSP9X, miR-148b-3p, and SRCIN1 was further explored through dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA Immunoprecipitation experiments.

RESULTS

The present findings reveal a significant upregulation of circUSP9X and SRCIN1 and a concurrent downregulation of miR-148b-3p in DVT cases. Knockdown of circUSP9X or overexpression of miR-148b-3p ameliorated CoCl2-induced apoptosis in HUVECs, reduced LDH release, enhanced cellular viability, and mitigated inflammation. Conversely, overexpression of circUSP9X intensified CoCl2's cytotoxic effects. The effects of manipulating circUSP9X expression were counteracted by the corresponding modulation of miR-148b-3p and SRCIN1 levels. Additionally, circUSP9X knockdown effectively inhibited the formation of DVT in the mouse model. A competitive binding mechanism of circUSP9X for miR-148b-3p, modulating SRCIN1 expression, was identified.

CONCLUSION

circUSP9X promotes the formation of DVT through the regulation of the miR-148b-3p/SRCIN1 axis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Plantar Vein Thrombosis

Plantar vein thrombosis (PVT) is an underdiagnosed condition affecting the deep plantar veins, with challenging clinical diagnosis, often presenting with non-specific symptoms that mimic other foot pathologies. This study assessed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients diagnosed with PVT to contribute to the understanding of this condition. We performed the comprehensive analysis of a substantial dataset, including 112 patients, with a total of 130 positive MRI scans (86 of the forefoot and 44 of the ankle) presenting with PVT. Upon evaluating all the veins of the feet, we observed a higher frequency of involvement of the lateral plantar veins (53.1%) when compared to the medial veins (3.8%). The most affected vascular segments in the forefeet were the plantar metatarsal veins (45.4%), the plantar venous arch (38.5%), and the plantar communicating veins (25.4%). The characteristic findings on MRI were perivascular edema (100%), muscular edema (86.2%), venous ectasia (100%), perivascular enhancement (100%), and intravenous filling defects (97.7%). Our study provides valuable insights into the imaging evaluation of PVT and shows that MRI is a reliable resource for such diagnosis.

The clinical outcomes of different doses of rivaroxaban in patients with isolated distal deep vein thrombosis

OBJECTIVE

Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT) is defined as thrombosis involving the infrapopliteal veins. The optimal anticoagulant therapy of IDDVT remains controversial. This study aimed to assess whether reduced dose of rivaroxaban was suitable in patients with IDDVT.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with acute IDDVT were identified by reviewing the venous thromboembolism (VTE) registry databases. Outcomes including VTE recurrence, major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding, and death. Patients were followed until the first occurrence of any outcomes or the study end date (December 31, 2018). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed.

RESULTS

A total of 1246 patients were divided into low-dose (10 or 15 mg/day; n = 716) and standard-dose (20 mg/day; n = 530) groups. The incidences of VTE recurrence, major bleeding, CRNM bleeding, and death between the two groups were 9.64% vs 5.66%, 1.68% vs 3.02%, 4.61% vs 8.68%, and 13.83% vs 10.75%, respectively. After the inverse probability of treatment weighting, HRs for standard-dose vs low-dose of VTE recurrence, major bleeding, CRNM bleeding, and death were 0.54 (95% CI, 0.35-0.84), 1.71 (95% CI, 0.80-3.67), 2.28 (95% CI, 1.40-3.74), and 1.30 (95% CI, 0.91-1.86), respectively. For the subgroup analysis, the interaction with anticoagulation duration and treatment was evident for VTE recurrence (P for interaction = .002), but not for major bleeding. Patients with residual vein thrombosis were associated with an increased risk of VTE recurrence (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.29-2.95). The interaction between risk factors and residual vein thrombosis was evident for VTE recurrence (P for interaction = .085).

CONCLUSIONS

Standard-dose rivaroxaban reduced the risk of VTE recurrence without increasing the risk of major bleeding in patients with IDDVT. Anticoagulant therapy for >1.5 months should be preferred over shorter durations. Residual vein thrombosis should be assessed as a predictor of recurrence in patients with IDDVT, especially for patients with non-transient factors.

Imaging Features of Plantar Vein Thrombosis: An Easily Overlooked Condition in the Differential Diagnosis of Foot Pain

Plantar vein thrombosis is a venous disorder affecting deep plantar veins that can manifest with non-specific localized pain, plantar foot pain, swelling, and sensation of fullness. Plantar veins are not routinely assessed during sonographic scans for deep venous thrombosis, which makes plantar venous thrombosis a commonly missed diagnosis. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the venous anatomy of the foot and imaging findings of plantar venous thrombosis as well as discusses the current literature on the topic and its differential diagnoses.

Which Frequency of Ankle Pump Exercise Should Be Chosen for the Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Introduction

Ankle pump exercise (APE) is an effective method to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities. However, traditional APE at a frequency of 3 times/min applied in the clinic lacked high compliance, and individuals were found to prefer an APE of 30 times/min. This study aimed to compare the effects of APEs with the above two different frequencies on the venous hemodynamics and fatigue of lower extremities.

Methods

The study applied a randomized cross-over design, and 307 healthy adults were randomly assigned into two groups, whose left feet performed 5 minutes of traditional APE (3 times/min, after 10 minutes of rest) and 5 minutes of selected APE (30 times/min, after 10 minutes of rest) in different orders. The diameters and blood flow velocities of the external iliac vein, femoral vein, and popliteal vein of the left extremities were recorded with the color doppler ultrasound when participants were at rest and after 5 minutes of traditional or selected APE. The fatigue of lower extremities was assessed with the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) after the participants performed 5 minutes of different APEs.

Results

After both traditional APE and selected APE, the diameters and blood flow (peak systolic) velocities of the external iliac vein, femoral vein, and popliteal vein increased significantly in the participants (P<.01), and the effects of the two APEs on venous hemodynamics of the lower extremities had no significant difference (P>.05). However, participants reported that traditional APE caused higher fatigue, and 252 (82.1%) participants preferred APE at 30 times/min.

Conclusion

Both traditional and selected APE could increase venous blood flow in the lower extremity. Despite the equivalent effects, the selected APE of 30 times/min may cause less fatigue than the traditional one of 3 times/min.