Deep vein thrombosis: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Deep vein thrombosis is characterized by the formation of clots inside deep veins, usually in the legs, impairing blood flow, which can cause symptoms such as swelling, redness and pain, and put life at risk if not treated properly.

In some cases, deep vein thrombosis can cause pulmonary embolism, which is a serious complication and also needs to be treated quickly. Therefore, it is important that venous thrombosis is identified as early as possible, which can be done through tests such as ultrasound and measurement of D-dimer in the blood.

If deep vein thrombosis is suspected, it is recommended to go to an emergency room for an evaluation and start appropriate treatment, which may involve anticoagulants and even surgery.

Deep vein thrombosis symptoms

The main symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are:

• Swelling in one of the legs;
• Throbbing pain in the affected region;
• Redness in the leg;
• Calor no local;
• Difficulty supporting the affected leg;
• Pain when touched in the region;
• Hardening of the skin over the involved area.

Although deep vein thrombosis usually affects the legs, it can also occur in veins in other parts of the body, such as the arms, causing similar symptoms. Furthermore, when severe, venous thrombosis can cause pulmonary embolism if left untreated. Check out what pulmonary embolism is and its symptoms.

If deep vein thrombosis is suspected, it is important to seek emergency care for an appropriate assessment and initiation of treatment.

Test online

See the risk of deep vein thrombosis in the leg by selecting your symptoms in the test:

The symptom test is a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with a cardiologist, hematologist or general practitioner.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis is usually made by a doctor in the emergency room, taking into account the symptoms presented and the risk of thrombosis. In addition, tests such as blood D-dimer measurement and leg ultrasound may also be indicated.

Make an appointment with your nearest doctor to investigate deep vein thrombosis:

Possible causes

Deep vein thrombosis is caused by the formation of a clot, normally in one of the legs, due to changes in circulation that increase the risk of blood clotting and which tend to occur in people with difficulty moving their limbs, bedridden or immobilized, sedentary , pregnant women or those who use injectable illicit drugs, for example.

Furthermore, people with a history of previous thrombosis and cancer, diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, the elderly, obese people, smokers and those who use oral hormonal contraceptives also have a higher risk of having deep vein thrombosis. See the main side effects of contraceptives.

Does COVID-19 increase the risk of thrombosis?

COVID-19 infection increases the risk of developing clots that can result in deep vein thrombosis. This seems to happen especially in the most serious cases, due to the intense inflammatory process that the virus causes and its direct effect on the vessels.

Therefore, the use of anticoagulants may be indicated in some cases of COVID-19, especially in hospitalized people with severe infection. Furthermore, blood tests such as platelet, fibrinogen, and D-dimer levels may be indicated to assess the risk of thrombosis. Understand better what D-dimer is and what it is for.

How the treatment is carried out

Treatment of deep vein thrombosis is usually done in hospital and involves the use of anticoagulant medications such as heparin, rivaroxaban or warfarin. However, in some cases, thrombolysis, which is a way of dissolving the clot using injectable medications, or surgery for thrombosis may also be indicated. Understand better how deep vein thrombosis is treated.