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25 years
Is deep vein thrombosis a deadly disease? Can the blood clot actually travel through the blood to the heart or lungs and cause a stroke?
Oct 23, 2014
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a manifestation of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Most cases of DVT resolve spontaneously and without complication. But please do not confuse DVT with superficial varicose veins, which could result in DVT if severe enough.
Death from DVT usually results from massive pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot travels up and lodges in the small blood vessels in the lung.
Symptoms of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) may include the following:
• Edema (swelling) - Most specific symptom
• Leg pain - Occurs in 50% of patients but is nonspecific
• Tenderness - Occurs in 75% of patients
• Warmth or erythema (redness) of the skin over the area of thrombosis
• Clinical symptoms of pulmonary embolism as the primary manifestation

Complications of DVT can be dramatically reduced with treatment (usually with anticoagulants or blood thinners), and include:
• As many as 40% of patients have silent pulmonary embolism when symptomatic DVT is diagnosed
• Paradoxic emboli (rare)
• Recurrent DVT
• Postthrombotic syndrome

Pulmonary Embolism:
As many as 40% of patients have silent PE when symptomatic DVT is diagnosed. An estimated 4% of individuals treated for DVT develop symptomatic PE. Treatment options include anticoagulation therapy (blood thinners) and placement of an inferior vena cava filter to filter and catch blood clots before they get into the lungs.
Paradoxic Emboli:
Although rare, paradoxic emboli usually occur in patients with cardiac abnormalities, who run the risk for the passage of emboli and resultant stroke.
Recurrent Deep Vein Thrombosis:
Without treatment, one half of patients will suffer from a recurrent, symptomatic VTE event within 3 months. Recurrence increases the risk of postthrombotic syndrome (PTS).
Postthrombotic syndrome:

PTS is a chronic complication of DVT that may appear in a matter of months to many years after the initial presentation. Symptoms can be mild, with some skin redness and induration (the affected area feels hard), to massive extremity swelling and ulceration, usually exacerbated by standing and relieved by elevation of the extremity.
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