HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in ADC Online Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barnes, C Articles by Monagle, P Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barnes, C Articles by Monagle, P

Post-thrombotic syndrome

Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr P Monagle, Department of Haematology, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Australia;
monaglep{at}cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au

ABSTRACT
Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a potentially disabling complication occurring in up to 67% of adult patients following deep venous thrombosis (DVT). PTS has recently been recognised in children. We present three cases of symptomatic PTS in children, which occurred following the use of central venous lines (CVLs). In two cases, no symptoms of acute thrombosis were noted. The cases highlight the clinical presentation of this syndrome. A review of the literature revealed two reports describing PTS occurring in children following DVT with an estimated incidence of 7–12%. It is concluded that PTS is an important complication of DVT in children. The clinical findings of pain, swelling, and brawny induration are similar to adult patients. The effect on growing limbs is not known. Paediatricians should be aware of the potential of PTS in all children who are at risk of DVT, including patients with malignancy, congenital heart disease, and children who have had previous CVLs, even in the absence of documented acute DVT.

Keywords: post-thrombotic syndrome; deep vein thrombosis; central venous line

Abbreviations: CVL, central venous line; DVT, deep vein thrombosis; INR, international normalised ratio; PTS, post-thrombotic syndrome