Introduction:

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The incidence of DVT is usually higher in the lower extremities (LE) compared to the upper extremities (UE) in the general population. We assessed the occurrence of DVT in upper and lower extremities in post-heart transplant patients (pts) and type of therapy including anticoagulants.

Methods:

A total of 103 post-heart transplant pts were assessed for the development of an upper or lower DVT. Venous Duplex ultrasonography was used to diagnose DVT.

Results:

A total of 55 pts (24% female, 76% male) with an average age of 58 were diagnosed with a DVT and 48 patients (31% female, 69% male) with an average age of 58 had no evidence of a DVT. Among the patients diagnosed with a DVT, 51 had their first incidence within the first year post-transplant (average of 39 days post-transplant): 42 patients (76.36%) had only UE, four (7.27%) had only LE, and nine (16.36%) had both UE and LE DVT. Four patients had their first DVT occur more than one year later (average of 1570 days post-transplant). 25 (45.45%) patients had two or more recurrent DVT episodes. The most common DVT of the UE detected was the basilic vein (20%), while the most common LE DVT detected was the femoral vein (46%). 40 out of 55 patients were treated with anticoagulant therapy with coumadin an average duration of 62 days while 15 pts were not treated. 13 pts had a low to intermediate probability of a pulmonary embolism by lung scan and not treated. Four pts who had a high probability scan were treated with anticoagulants, two pts with apixaban and two pts with coumadin therapy for six months. Two of these patients had UE DVT and two had LE DVT.

Conclusion:

DVT is a common complication after heart transplant with a higher rate of DVT in the upper extremities than the lower extremities. Majority had DVT early after transplant. A small number had evidence of pulmonary embolus by scan which was successfully treated.

CITATION INFORMATION: Bhat G., Setia T., Nguyen C., Balanlayos I., Roska A-.G., Andrade A., Cotts W., Macaluso G., Pauwaa S., Bresticker M., Tatooles A., Pappas P. Deep Vein Thrombosis in Heart Transplant Patients Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress