Superficial Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Varicose Veins: Role of Thrombophilia Factors, Age and Body Mass

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 355 - 358
• Main Authors: Karathanos, Ch, Sfyroeras, G, Drakou, A, Roussas, N, Exarchou, M, Kyriakou, D, Giannoukas, A.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2012
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Age Factors; Biomarkers - blood; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - epidemiology; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Protein S deficiency; Protein S Deficiency - blood; Protein S Deficiency - diagnosis; Protein S Deficiency - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Superficial vein thrombosis; Surgery; Thrombophilia; Thrombophilia - blood; Thrombophilia - diagnosis; Thrombophilia - epidemiology; Varicose Ulcer - epidemiology; Varicose veins; Varicose Veins - blood; Varicose Veins - diagnosis; Varicose Veins - epidemiology; Venous Thrombosis - blood; Venous Thrombosis - diagnosis; Venous Thrombosis - epidemiology; Thrombophilia; Obesity; Superficial vein thrombosis; Protein S deficiency; Body mass; Varicose veins
• ISSN: 1078-5884; 1532-2165
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2011.12.019

Abstract Objectives To investigate the association of various risk factors including thrombophilia defects, in patients with varicose veins (VVs) and history of episodes of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). Materials and methods Two hundred and thirty patients with primary VVs were included in this prospective study. A total of 128 (43 men, age 56 ± 13) had an acute episode or a previous history of SVT, while 102 patients (27 men, age 48 ± 12) did not. Coagulation profile investigation included serum levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS), anti-thrombin III (AT III), plasminogen (Plg), A2 antiplasmin (A2 Apl) and activated protein C resistance (APCR). This was performed at least 3 months after the SVT episode to ensure that the results were not altered. Age and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Results PC deficiency was detected in 3/128 (2.3%), PS deficiency in 19/128 (14.8%), AT III deficiency in 29/128 (22.7%), Plg deficiency in 9/128 (7%), A2 Apl excess in 3/128 (2.3%) and APCR in 9/128 (7%) patients with SVT and 0/102 (0%), 3/102 (2.9%), 15/102 (14.7%), 6/102 (5.8%), 0/102 (0%) and 1/102 (0.9%) in the control group, respectively. BMI greater than 30 kg m−2 was associated with SVT. In logistic regression analysis SVT was associated with PS deficiency (odds ratio (OR) 6.7, p  = 0.004, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83–24.53), obesity (OR 3.5, p  = 0.003, 95% CI 1.53–8.05) and age (OR 1.038, p  = 0.001, 95% CI 1.01–1.06). Conclusions Obesity, age and PS deficiency were found as factors associated with SVT episodes in patients with VVs.