Superficial Vein Thrombosis in Patients with Varicose Veins: Role of Thrombophilia Factors, Age and Body Mass

Objectives: To investigate the association of various risk factors including thrombophilia defects, in patients with varicose veins (VVs) and history of episodes of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). Materials and methods: Two hundred and thirty patients with primary VVs were included in this prospective study. A total of 128 (43 men, age 56 +/- 13) had an acute episode or a previous history of SVT, while 102 patients (27 men, age 48 +/- 12) did not. Coagulation profile investigation included serum levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS), anti-thrombin III (AT III), plasminogen (Plg), A(2) antiplasmin (A(2)Apl) and activated protein C resistance (APCR). This was performed at least 3 months after the SVT episode to ensure that the results were not altered. Age and body mass index (BMI) were also assessed. Results: PC deficiency was detected in 3/128 (2.3%), PS deficiency in 19/128 (14.8%), AT III deficiency in 29/128 (22.7%), Pig deficiency in 9/128 (7%), A(2)Apl excess in 3/128 (2.3%) and APCR in 9/128 (7%) patients with SVT and 0/102 (0%), 3/102 (2.9%), 15/102 (14.7%), 6/102 (5.8%), 0/102 (0%) and 1/102 (0.9%) in the control group, respectively. BMI greater than 30 kg m(-2) was associated with SVT. In logistic regression analysis SVT was associated with PS deficiency (odds ratio (OR) 6.7, p = 0.004, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-24.53), obesity (OR 3.5, p = 0.003, 95% CI 1.53-8.05) and age (OR 1.038, p = 0.001, 95% CI 1.01-1.06). Conclusions: Obesity, age and PS deficiency were found as factors associated with SVT episodes in patients with VVs. (C) 2011 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.