[Deep venous thrombosis--epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment]

Abstract

The pathogenesis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) involves vascular changes or injury, stasis and alterations in the blood composition. The risk increases with age; however, important risk factors are cancer, surgery, immobilisation and hormone therapy. DVT most often appears in the crural veins. The diagnosis is based on ultrasound, d-dimer and clinical examination. Correct treatment requires gradient compression hosiery, low-molecular heparins and anticoagulant therapy. Duration of treatment depends on the individual risk of recurrence.