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Thromb Haemost 1999; 81(03): 353-357
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614476
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Clinical Prediction of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Leg Symptoms

Susan R. Kahn
1   From the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies and Department of Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
,
Lawrence Joseph
2   Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
,
Lucien Abenhaim
1   From the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies and Department of Medicine, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
,
Jacques R. Leclerc
3   Division of Hematology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
› Author AffiliationsThis work was supported by grants from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (training bursary, Dr. S. R. Kahn) and the National Health Research and Development Program, Canada.
Further Information

Publication History

Received04 June 1998

Accepted after revision18 November 1998

Publication Date:
09 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Symptoms and clinical signs individually are inaccurate for the diagnosis of DVT. However, when assessing patients with leg symptoms, clinicians have access to additional information, such as whether or not DVT risk factors are present that could improve the accuracy of clinical judgment. The purpose of this study was to identify which clinical variables best predict DVT, and to use these variables to create a clinical prediction index for DVT. We studied 271 university hospital patients with a first episode of symptomatic, clinically suspected DVT. The prevalence of DVT was 27%, of which 71% were proximal. At baseline, information was collected on demographic features, comorbidity, and symptoms and signs. A Bayesian model selection strategy was used to estimate the logistic regression model that best predicted DVT. Male sex [OR = 2.8 (1.5, 5.1)], orthopedic surgery [OR = 5.4 (2.2, 13.6)], warmth [OR = 2.1 (1.2, 3.9)] and superficial venous dilation on exam [OR = 2.9 (1.4, 5.7)] were independent predictors of DVT. Using the model, a clinical prediction index that categorized patients into different levels of DVT risk was created, and was useful in a theoretical strategy aimed to limit the need for contrast venography in patients with suspected DVT, such that 96% of study patients could have avoided contrast venography. This index should be evaluated prospectively in other patient populations.

 

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