Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that occurs when a blood
clot forms in a vein located deep inside your body. A blood clot is a clump of
blood that’s turned to a solid state.
Deep vein blood clots typically form in your thigh or lower leg, but they can
also develop in other areas of your body. Other names associated with this
condition may include thromboembolism, post-thrombotic syndrome, and
postphlebitic syndrome.
DVT symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)Trusted Source, symptoms of DVT only occur in about half of the
people who have this condition. Common symptoms include:
• swelling in your foot, ankle, or leg, usually on one side
• cramping pain in your affected leg that usually begins in your calf
• severe, unexplained pain in your foot and ankle
• an area of skin that feels warmer than the skin on the surrounding
areas
• skin over the affected area turning pale or a reddish or bluish
color
People with an upper extremity DVT, or a blood clot in the arm, may
also not experience symptoms. If they do, common symptoms include:
• neck pain
• shoulder pain
• swelling in the arm or hand
• blue-tinted skin color
• pain that moves from the arm to the forearm
• weakness in the hand
People may not find out that they have deep vein thrombosis until
they’ve gone through emergency treatment for a pulmonary
embolism (blood clot in the lung).
A pulmonary embolism can happen when a DVT clot has moved from
the arm or leg into the lung. When an artery in the lung becomes
blocked, it’s a life-threatening condition and requires emergency care.
DVT causes
DVT is caused by a blood clot. The clot blocks a vein, preventing blood
from properly circulating in your body. Clotting may occur for several
reasons. These include:
• Injury. Damage to a blood vessel’s wall can narrow or block
blood flow. A blood clot may form as a result.
• Surgery. Blood vessels can be damaged during surgery, which
can lead to the development of a blood clot. Bed rest with little to
no movement after surgery may also increase your risk for
developing a blood clot.
• Reduced mobility or inactivity. When you sit frequently, blood
can collect in your legs, especially the lower parts. If you’re
unable to move for extended periods of time, the blood flow in
your legs can slow down. This can cause a clot to develop.
• Certain medications. Some medications increase the chances
your blood will form a clot.
DVT treatment
DVT is a serious medical condition. Tell your doctor right away if you
think you’re experiencing symptoms of DVT or go to the closest
emergency room. A healthcare provider can check out your symptoms.
DVT treatments focus on keeping the clot from growing. In addition,
treatment may help prevent a pulmonary embolism and lower your risk
of having more clots.
Medication
Your doctor might prescribe medications that thin your
blood, like heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), or
fondaparinux (Arixtra). This makes it harder for your blood to clot. It also
keeps existing clots as small as possible and decreases the chance that
you’ll develop more clots.
If blood thinners don’t work, or if you have a severe case of DVT, your
doctor might use thrombolytic drugs. People with upper extremity DVT
may also benefit from this medication.
Thrombolytic drugs work by breaking up clots. You’ll receive these
intravenously. Read more about these drugs and how they can help
prevent and destroy blood clots.
Sources:
Melbourne Haematology (Haematology Fact Sheets: Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)), Mayo
Clinic (Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)), Heart Foundation (Heart information: Your heart)
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Last reviewed: February 2019
