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Thromb Haemost 2019; 119(03): 479-489
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1677793
Stroke, Systemic or Venous Thromboembolism
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Treatment of Superficial Vein Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Lisa Duffett
1   Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Clive Kearon
2   Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
,
Marc Rodger
1   Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
,
Marc Carrier
1   Department of Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
› Author Affiliations Funding Lisa Duffett received financial support from the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa (recruitment award) and University of Ottawa (Canadian fellowship for new faculty).
Further Information

Publication History

08 August 2018

09 December 2018

Publication Date:
04 February 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Background The optimal first line treatment for patients with isolated superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) of the lower extremity is unknown.

Objective This article reports estimates of the rate of venous thromboembolic complications among patients with SVT according to treatment.

Materials and Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using unrestricted searches of electronic databases. Reported events were transformed to event per 100 patient-years of follow-up and a random effects model was used to calculate pooled rates according to pre-specified treatment categories. The primary outcome was the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) during the study follow-up period.

Results Seventeen articles, including 6,862 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Fondaparinux had the lowest event rate with 1.4 events per 100 patient-years of follow-up (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5–2.8, I 2 = 18%). Pooled event rates for DVT or PE ranged from 9.3 to 16.6 events per 100 patient-years across other treatment categories, and the pooled event rate for no treatment/placebo was 10.5 events per 100 patient-years (95% CI, 3.0–22.0). Major bleeding was low and similar across all treatment categories. Heterogeneity was moderate to high for most pooled estimates.

Conclusion While pooled event rates suggest that fondaparinux achieves the lowest rate of DVT or PE, low-quality evidence for other treatments prevents firm conclusions about the optimal treatment for SVT.

Keywords

superficial vein thrombosis - thrombophlebitis - systematic review - anticoagulants - anti-inflammatory agents

Supplementary Material

 

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