Postthrombotic morbidity correlates with residual thrombus following catheter-directed thrombolysis for iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is associated with severe postthrombotic morbidity when treated with anticoagulation alone. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), with or without the addition of mechanical techniques, is increasingly recommended for patients with iliofemoral DVT, although its effect on postthrombotic syndrome is not established. This study examined the correlation of residual thrombus with postthrombotic syndrome after catheter-based attempts at thrombus removal in patients with iliofemoral DVT. METHODS: Seventy-one consecutive patients with iliofemoral DVT were treated with CDT. Pretreatment and posttreatment phlebograms were evaluated for quantity of residual thrombus by physicians blinded to clinical patient outcomes. Postthrombotic syndrome was assessed using CEAP and Villalta scores by examiners blinded to phlebographic results. Patients were grouped by the amount of residual thrombus in treated vein segments (group 1, ≤50%; group 2, >50%). Clinical score and postthrombotic outcomes were plotted vs residual thrombus. RESULTS: Sixty-three of 71 patients completed CEAP and Villalta analyses. Groups 1 and 2 had median CEAP scores of 1 and 4 (P = .025) and mean Villalta scores of 2.21 and 7.13, respectively (P = .011). There was a direct and significant correlation of clinical class of CEAP with residual thrombus (R(2) = .74; P = .004) and a direct linear correlation of Villalta score with residual thrombus (R(2) = .61; P = .0014). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with iliofemoral DVT treated with catheter-based techniques of thrombus removal, postthrombotic morbidity is related to residual thrombus. When thrombus clearance was complete, the postthrombotic syndrome was avoided. Residual thrombus is associated with an increasing risk of postthrombotic syndrome.

Quantity of clot lysed after catheter-directed thrombolysis for iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis correlates with postthrombotic morbidity.

BACKGROUND: International treatment guidelines now recognize the importance of thrombus removal to reduce postthrombotic morbidity when treating patients with extensive acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Studies have shown that thrombus resolution with catheter-directed thrombolysis in patients with iliofemoral DVT reduces postthrombotic morbidity, although patients unsuccessfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) do not enjoy the same long-term benefit. The purpose of this study is to objectively assess whether the amount of clot reduction at the time of acute therapy correlates with long-term postthrombotic morbidity. METHODS: Forty-two patients who underwent catheter-directed and/or pharmacomechanical lysis of iliofemoral DVT were quantitatively evaluated. Patients had their degree of clot lysis quantified and were divided into two main groups for comparison. Group I (n = 33) had >50% clot lysis (mean, 84%) and group II (n = 9) had < or =50% lysis (mean, 42%). At a mean follow-up interval of 14 months, the degree of chronic venous disease was assessed by evaluators blinded to the degree of clot lysis. Evaluation of postthrombotic morbidity was performed using the Villalta scale, and the clinical class of CEAP, and quality-of-life (QOL) was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: Mean CEAP scores were 0.85 and 3.13 (P = .005), and Villalta scores were 2.38 and 6.25 (P = .009) in group I and group II, respectively. Patient QOL in group I was higher than group II in all parameters. Physical functioning (P = .035), role physical (P = .012), general health (P = .014), vitality (P < .001), and social functioning (P = .012) were all significantly better in group I. Bodily pain (P = .117), role emotional (P = .624), and mental health (P = .096) strongly favored group I patients but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Patients with extensive DVT treated with catheter-based interventions to eliminate thrombus suffer relatively little postthrombotic morbidity. The degree of clot lysis directly correlates with long-term outcome. Improved QOL, the Villalta scale, and clinical class of CEAP are linearly correlated with the amount of clot resolution.