Evaluation of the persistence of acute thrombus in the late phase of deep vein thrombosis

• Grant number: 13/19144-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Joyce Maria Annichino-Bizzacchi
• Grantee: Joyce Maria Annichino-Bizzacchi
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fernanda Loureiro de Andrade Orsi

Abstract

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major public health problem. It is estimated that the annual incidence of DVT is 67 per 100,000 individuals in the general population. The treatment of DVT is based on the use of anticoagulants and intended to prevent complications of the disease. The complications of DVT are thrombus progression and embolization, which can cause death of the patient. Late complications are post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), chronic pulmonary hypertension and recurrent DVT. Ultrasound Doppler (US) has become the principal tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. The image analysis of the US, however, is a subjective and operator-dependent method, particularly in the evaluation of chronic venous obstruction. Thrombus characterization is important because it may grade embolization risk embolization and may dictate changes in treatment with time. The analysis of the damaged venous wall may have provide information about disease complications. Several studies have used computer-assisted US image analyses to obtain a more objective and quantitative assessment of the echogenicity of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid and peripheral arteries. Thus, the use of a similar analysis in the context of DVT could contribute to a more accurate evaluation of residual thrombus and could potentially rise as a new prognostic marker for DVT and the risk of recurrence. (AU)