The occurrence of the post-thrombotic changes after an acute deep venous thrombosis - A prospective two-year follow-up study

Background. The aim of the study is to investigate the development of subjective and objective findings during the first two years after DVT (deep venous thrombosis). Methods. This prospective two-year follow-up study was established in Tampere University Hospital in Finland. Twenty-six patients with a two-year follow-up after a phlebographically confirmed DVT were followed. Patients were treated conventionally with heparin and warfarin. Phlebography was repeated 7 months after DVT. Color-flow duplex imaging (CEDI) was performed in both legs 7 and 20 months after DM: The subjective symptoms in both legs were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up. The development of venous reflux, obstruction and subjective symptoms after DVT were studied. Results. 50% of the legs with DVT had a pathological (deep reflux or obstructive change) CFDI-finding in the popliteal segment after a 20-month follow-up. The pathological findings in the control legs were rare. The rate of recanalisation was high. There was no difference between calf and more proximal DVTs. Pain (62%), oedema (46%) and pigmentation (35%) were common and only 27% of the legs with DVT mere asymptomatic. Conclusions. The development of the post-thrombotic syndrome begins quite early. The frequency of the subjective symptoms is high. Calf DVT may lead to postthrombotic sequelae in the popliteal segment.