Table 1.
Characteristics of the study patients (n=53). Values are numbers (percentages) of patients unless otherwise indicated
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mean age in years (SD) | 44.3 (18.5) |
| Male sex | 31 (58.5) |
| Location of thrombosis: | |
| Isolated brachial | 4 (7.5) |
| Axillary vein | 6 (11.3) |
| Subclavian vein | 14 (26.4) |
| Axillary and subclavian veins | 29 (54.7) |
| Concomitant symptomatic pulmonary embolism | 6 (11.3) |
| Risk factors for thrombosis | |
| Thrombophilia* | 12 (22.6) |
| Unusual exercise | 11 (20.7) |
| Active cancer† | 11 (20.7) |
| Recent (<4 weeks) trauma or fracture | 6 (11.3) |
| Previous leg vein thrombosis | 6 (11.3) |
| Recent (<4 weeks) surgery | 3 (5.7) |
| Outlet thoracic syndrome | 3 (5.7) |
| Obesity | 3 (5.7) |
| Heart failure | 2 (3.8) |
| Oestrogens (% women) | 5/22 (22.7) |
| Pregnancy (% women) | 1/22 (4.5) |
| Combination of inherited and acquired risk factors | 9 (17.0) |
| None | 8 (15.1) |
| Initial treatment | |
| Unfractionated heparin | 43 (81.1) |
| Low molecular weight heparin | 10 (18.9) |
| No of months of follow up | |
| Median duration (range) | 48.3 (1-60) |
| Median duration of anticoagulant treatment (range) | 3 (1-40)‡ |
*
Factor V Leiden in six patients, deficiency of protein C in three, deficiency of antithrombin in two, and prothrombin gene mutation in one.
†
Already known or detected during hospitalisation.
‡
Longer than six months in four patients.