Post-thrombotic syndrome and recurrent thromboembolism in patients with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is limited data on the occurrence of complications in patients with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT). AIMS: We aimed to determine the frequency of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), thrombosis recurrence and major bleeding (MB) in patients with UEDVT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature including studies from 1970 onwards. We included observational studies, randomized trials, or cases series including >20 patients. We calculated pooled proportions using a random effects model. Subgroup analyses according to etiology and treatment modality were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 62 studies comprising 3550 patients were included. The pooled proportions for PTS and recurrence were 19.4% (95% CI 11.3-27.6) and 7.5% (95% CI 4.1-10.9), respectively. With a mean follow up of 6 months, the proportion of PTS was higher in patients with primary (unprovoked) UEDVT compared to secondary, whereas recurrence was higher in secondary UEDVT. PTS was more frequent in patients treated with anticoagulation alone compared to thrombolysis or surgical decompression. The pooled proportion for MB was 5.0% (95% CI 0.3-9.7) after anticoagulation alone and 3.8% (95% CI: 2.4-5.8%) after thrombolysis and/or surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that UEDVT is associated with significant rates of PTS and recurrence and its treatment has a relatively low risk of major bleeding. Differences exist depending on etiology and treatment modality.

[Síndrome de Paget-Schrötter: presentación de cuatro casos]. / Paget-Schrötter syndrome: description of four cases.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the upper limb is a rare entity, estimated to account for 10% of all cases of DVT. Classically, they are classified into primary (idiopathic, due to subclavian vein compression or exercise related) and secondary (cancer, thrombophilia, trauma, shoulder surgery, associated to venous catheters or due to hormonal causes). The Paget- Schrötter syndrome is a primary thrombosis of the subclavian vein in the subclavian-axillary junction, related either to repetitive movements or to exercise; leading to microtrauma in the endothelium with consequent activation of the coagulation cascade. Clinically, it presents abruptly with pain, edema and feeling of heaviness in the affected limb. The treatment varies from thrombolytics and anticoagulation to surgical intervention, depending on the time of evolution. We present four cases of exercise-related subclavian vein thrombosis.

Síndrome de Paget-Schrötter: presentación de cuatro casos / Paget-Schrötter syndrome: presentation of four cases

La trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) del miembro superior es una entidad poco frecuente, se estima que representa el 10% de todos los casos de TVP. Clásicamente se clasifican en primarias (idiopáticas, por compresión de la vena subclavia o relacionadas con el ejercicio) y secundarias (cáncer, trombofilia, traumatismo, cirugía del hombro, asociadas a catéteres venosos o de causa hormonal). El síndrome de Paget- Schrötter es una trombosis primaria de la vena subclavia en la unión subclavio-axilar, ya sea por movimientos repetitivos o relacionada al ejercicio; llevando a microtrauma en el endotelio con la consiguiente activación de la cascada de coagulación. Clínicamente se presenta de forma brusca con dolor, edema y sensación de pesadez en el miembro afectado. El tratamiento varía desde trombolíticos y anticoagulación a la intervención quirúrgica, dependiendo del tiempo de evolución. Presentamos cuatro casos de trombosis de vena subclavia relacionada con el ejercicio.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the upper limb is a rare entity, estimated to account for 10% of all cases of DVT. Classically, they are classified into primary (idiopathic, due to subclavian vein compression or exercise related) and secondary (cancer, thrombophilia, trauma, shoulder surgery, associated to venous catheters or due to hormonal causes). The Paget- Schrötter syndrome is a primary thrombosis of the subclavian vein in the subclavian-axillary junction, related either to repetitive movements or to exercise; leading to microtrauma in the endothelium with consequent activation of the coagulation cascade. Clinically, it presents abruptly with pain, edema and feeling of heaviness in the affected limb. The treatment varies from thrombolytics and anticoagulation to surgical intervention, depending on the time of evolution. We present four cases of exercise-related subclavian vein thrombosis.

Management of cancer-associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis with and without venous catheters at a tertiary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Data on management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) in patients with cancer is limited. The objective of this study was to determine risk factors for UEDVT and the rates of recurrence and bleeding in a real-world setting. METHODS: Retrospective review of consecutive patients assessed for cancer-associated UEDVT. Outcome measures were recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), and major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB). Risk factors for recurrent VTE and bleeding were assessed. RESULTS: Mean duration of follow-up was 7.2 months. Two hundred cases were identified; 69% were associated with a central line. Non-line associated UEDVT occurred more frequently in the setting of breast cancer, lung cancer and documented local mass effect. The incidence of recurrent VTE was 18.5%, of which 14 (37.8%) were ipsilateral UEDVT. The risk of recurrence is higher with male gender (HR 2.0, 95% CI; 1.0-4.0). Major and CRNMB occurred in 1% and 11.5%, respectively. Concurrent use of an antiplatelet agent was associated with a higher risk of CRNMB compared to anticoagulant therapy alone (HR 3.9, 95% CI; 1.4-10.7). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of a venous catheter was the primary risk factor for UEDVT, however, extrinsic compression by local tumour may be just as important for some cancer types. Furthermore, the majority of recurrent events did not occur in the same upper limb suggesting that UEDVT may be predictive of increased thrombotic risk rather than just a local effect of catheters.

A prospective study of Rivaroxaban for central venous catheter associated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients (Catheter 2).

INTRODUCTION: Patients with cancer are at increased risk of thrombosis, particularly those with central venous catheter (CVC) placement, which may predispose to the development of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT). Standard treatment includes low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or LMWH bridged to warfarin. The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have become standard of care for uncomplicated venous thromboembolism (VTE), but research in patients with cancer is ongoing. OBJECTIVES: To assess rivaroxaban monotherapy in patients with cancer who develop UEDVT due to CVC for preservation of line function, and safety outcomes of VTE recurrence, bleeding risk and death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients ≥18years of age with active malignancy and symptomatic proximal UEDVT with or without pulmonary embolism (PE), associated with a CVC, were eligible. Treatment included rivaroxaban 15mg oral twice daily for 3weeks, followed by 20mg oral daily for 9weeks. Patients were followed clinically for 12weeks to assess for line function, recurrent VTE and bleeding. RESULTS: Seventy patients (47 women) were included, with mean age 54.1years. The most common malignancy was breast cancer (41%). Preservation of line function was 100% at 12weeks. The risk of recurrent VTE at 12weeks was 1.43%, with one episode of fatal PE. 9 patients (12.9%) experienced 11 total bleeding episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Rivaroxaban showed promise in treating CVC-UEDVT in cancer patients, resulting in preserved line function. However, bleeding rates and a fatal pulmonary embolism on treatment are concerning safety outcomes necessitating further study before rivaroxaban can be recommended.

The diagnostic management of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: A review of the literature.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for 4% to 10% of all cases of deep vein thrombosis. UEDVT may present with localized pain, erythema, and swelling of the arm, but may also be detected incidentally by diagnostic imaging tests performed for other reasons. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial to prevent pulmonary embolism and long-term complications as the post-thrombotic syndrome of the arm. Unlike the diagnostic management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities, which is well established, the work-up of patients with clinically suspected UEDVT remains uncertain with limited evidence from studies of small size and poor methodological quality. Currently, only one prospective study evaluated the use of an algorithm, similar to the one used for DVT of the lower extremities, for the diagnostic workup of clinically suspected UEDVT. The algorithm combined clinical probability assessment, D-dimer testing and ultrasonography and appeared to safely and effectively exclude UEDVT. However, before recommending its use in routine clinical practice, external validation of this strategy and improvements of the efficiency are needed, especially in high-risk subgroups in whom the performance of the algorithm appeared to be suboptimal, such as hospitalized or cancer patients. In this review, we critically assess the accuracy and efficacy of current diagnostic tools and provide clinical guidance for the diagnostic management of clinically suspected UEDVT.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in a triathlete: Again intense endurance exercise as a thrombogenic risk.

Triathlon followers increase each year and long-distance events have seen major growth worldwide. In the cycling phase, athletes must maintain an aerodynamic posture on the bike for long periods of time. We report a case of a 38-year-old triathlete with symptoms of an axillary vein thrombosis 48h after a long triathlon competition. After 3days of hospitalization with a treatment consisted on enoxaparin anticoagulant and acenocumarol, the patient was discharged with instructions to continue treatment under home hospitalization with acetaminophen. Four weeks after the process, the patient was asymptomatic and the diameter of his arm was near normality. Due to the growing popularity of events based on endurance exercise, it is necessary more research to determine the etiopathogeny of deep venous thrombosis in athletes.

Paget-Schroetter syndrome after a dental procedure in a patient with factor V Leiden (R506Q) heterozygosity.

: Paget-Schroetter syndrome or effort thrombosis is characterized by spontaneous thrombosis of the upper extremity venous system, commonly seen in a young healthy patient after repetitive use of the upper extremities. It is rarely associated with coagulopathy and thus, hypercoagulable work-up is not usually a part of the investigation. We present a first case of a young woman, who was diagnosed with left upper extremity effort thrombosis following a dental procedure. Interestingly, she was also noted to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation.

Swollen right hand and forearm · minor trauma to hand · previous diagnosis of cellulitis · Dx?

A 63-year-old woman with a history of hyperlipidemia presented to our hospital with a swollen right hand. The patient noted that she had closed her hand in a car door one week earlier, causing minor trauma to the right third metacarpophalangeal joint. Shortly after injuring her hand, she'd sought care at an outpatient facility, where she was given a diagnosis of cellulitis and a prescription for an oral antibiotic. The swelling, however, worsened, prompting her visit to our hospital.

A systematic review of patient-related risk factors for catheter-related thrombosis.

To identify patient-related risk factors for venous thrombosis in patients with central venous catheters (CVC) or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). We performed a systematic review of the literature assessing patient-related risk factors for thrombosis related to CVC or PICC. The databases PubMed, Ovid and the Cochrane library were searched for observational studies pertaining to patient-related risk factors for CVC and PICC-related thrombosis. The initial search through PubMed, Ovid and the Cochrane library yielded 516 results. After 71 duplicates were removed, 445 articles were assessed for eligibility based on title and abstract. Four hundred and eleven articles were then excluded and 33 full text articles were manually assessed for eligibility. Eight articles were eliminated as they did not contain content relevant to the review. Twenty-five studies were then selected to assess 20 risk factors. There were no consistent significant associations for catheter-related thrombosis across the twenty-five studies. Multiple studies identified age, malignancy, diabetes, obesity, chemotherapy, thrombophilia and a history of thrombosis as significant risk factors for catheter-related thrombosis. Inconsistent findings among studies make it difficult to establish which patient-related risk factors are associated with catheter-related thrombosis. Future studies could include larger sample sizes and more cases of catheter-related thrombosis to produce more significant results. Identification of patient-related risk factors could lead to early recognition of upper limb deep vein thrombosis in patients with catheters, thereby preventing complications.

Automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation may precipitate effort-induced thrombosis in young athletes: a case report and literature review.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common finding after implantation of an automatic implantable cardiac defrillator (AICD). We describe the case of a patient who developed a left upper extremity DVT 4.5 months after implantation of an AICD and was found to have a lead-induced stenosis with possible underlying Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) in the midbrachiocephalic vein on venography. While his symptoms resolved after the combination of pharmacomechanical thrombolysis, angioplasty, and anticoagulation, his long-term management is complicated by the presence of both PSS and lead-induced stenosis. Herein, we discuss his presentation, treatment, and future management options.

Bilateral upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis following central cord syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication following spinal cord injury (SCI). Although DVT of the upper extremity is much less common than DVT of the lower extremities, the risk of pulmonary embolism following upper-extremity DVT should not be disregarded. METHOD: Case report. FINDINGS: A bilateral upper-extremity DVT developed in a 51-year-old woman with SCI (central cord syndrome) being followed in our rehabilitation clinic. Medical treatment resulted in improvement in the clinical status of the patient as well as the regression in the thrombus. CONCLUSION: In patients with SCI, DVT should be kept in mind in the presence of pain and edema in the upper extremities, and prophylactic DVT treatment should be considered.

Hemodialysis catheter thrombi: visualization and quantification of microstructures and cellular composition.

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing use of central venous catheters (CVC) for hemodialysis in clinical practice, the role of CVC in thrombus development is poorly understood. This work aims at defining new methods and protocols for assessing the micromorphology and composition of thrombi formed into tunneled and non-tunneled hemodialysis CVC removed from patients. 
 METHODS: Twenty-nine CVCs were collected and the microscopic features of intra-luminal thrombi were quantified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and visualized by two photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). 
 RESULTS: SEM quantification showed that fibrin was the most abundant structure in CVC thrombi. Specifically, the median micromorphologic composition of the surface layer resulted in: 42.6% of fibrin plaque, 16.3% of fibrin network, 0.4% of fibrin fibers, 9.3% of platelets, 10.3% of erythrocytes and 1.7% of white blood cells. TPLSM showed that sub-surface layers were instead composed by smaller amounts of fibrin and platelets and higher amounts of blood cells.
 CONCLUSIONS: Integration of SEM and TPLSM was found to be an excellent tool for characterizing thrombi in hemodialysis CVC removed from patients. Protocols and techniques presented here may be useful in the development and testing of new strategies for limiting thrombus formation on vascular access because of CVC.

Extra-abdominal venous thromboses at unusual sites.

Venous thrombosis typically involves the lower extremities. Rarely, it can occur in cerebral, splanchnic, or renal veins, with a frightening clinical impact. Other rare manifestations are upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis, that can complicate with pulmonary embolism and post-thrombotic syndrome, and retinal vein occlusion, significantly affecting the quality of life. This review is focused on venous thromboses at unusual extra-abdominal sites. Local infections or cancer are frequent in cerebral sinus-venous thrombosis. Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis is mostly due to catheters or effort-related factors. Common risk factors are inherited thrombophilia and oral contraceptive use. Acute treatment is based on heparin; in cerebral sinus-venous thrombosis, local or systemic fibrinolysis should be considered in case of clinical deterioration. Vitamin-K antagonists are recommended for 3-6 months; indefinite anticoagulation is suggested for recurrent thrombosis or unprovoked thrombosis and permanent risk factors. However, such recommendations mainly derive from observational studies; there are no data about long-term treatment of retinal vein occlusion.

[Effort thrombosis of the right subclavian vein].

This case report illustrates a primary upper extremity DVT of the right subclavian vein in an otherwise healthy young male. The pathogenesis of primary upper extremity DVT may be anatomical, such as thoracic outlet syndrome, vascular microtrauma e.g. effort thrombosis, or both. After examining the patient's clinical presentation and imaging results, a diagnosis of effort thrombosis, or "Paget-Schroetter syndrome" was made. Due to the clear insulting factor, the mild clinical presentation, and the fast response to anti-coagulant treatment, a conservative treatment was followed, which included anti-coagulation and close follow-up, as advised by the American College of Chest Physician's evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.