Outcomes of calf DVTs not treated with anticoagulants
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Outcomes of calf deep vein thromboses not treated with anticoagulants: a cohort study
IRAS ID
227887
Contact name
Michelle Bonfield
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in the veins. This can occur in the veins of the leg and may be above knee or below knee (calf). Treatment of above knee clots using blood thinners is an agreed standard however treatment of calf clots is still controversial, particularly with regard to the risk of bleeding versus the risk of having a clot. Protocol at UHBristol has recently changed from routinely treating calf DVTs with blood thinners to rescanning patients after one week to check for extension.
This project is a cohort study looking at the outcomes of these untreated calf DVT patients three months after their initial diagnosis. The potential outcomes of a calf DVT include the clot getting bigger (propagation), the clot going away (resolution), part of the clot travelling to the lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE), the development long term symptoms (post thrombotic syndrome, PTS) and recurrence of the DVT. These outcomes will be assessed by inviting participants to a rescan of their leg veins three months after their initial diagnosis. At this visit they will also have a clinical examination of their leg and take part in a questionnaire about their symptoms and quality of life.
The results from this cohort study and a brief questionnaire carried out at the Society of Vascular Technology annual meeting focusing on how people are treated at other NHS hospitals will be used to decide whether a larger trial should be carried out to find out what the best care plan might be for these patients.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1767
Date of REC Opinion
13 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion