Background: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the upper limb is increasing due to the frequent use of intravenous devices for various indications.

Aims: We report in our work the epidemiological characteristics and the etiological profile of DVT of the upper limb.

Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out in an internal medicine department collecting the files of patients with DVT of upper limb over a period of 24 years from 1996 to 2020.

Results: Twenty-three patients presented with upper limb DVT. They were 16 men (69.56%) and 7 women (30.43%). The average age was 46 years . DVT involved the subclavian vein (16 cases ), the axillary vein (10 cases), the internal jugular vein (13 cases), the brachiocephalic venous trunk (TVBC) (6 cases) and the basilic vein in one case. It was associated with superior vena cava thrombosis in two patients and venous thrombosis of the lower limb complicated by pulmonary embolism in a single patient. It was bilateral in one case. The etiological investigation revealed an anti-phospholipid syndrome in 6 cases (26.08%). Constitutional thrombophilia was observed in 5 patients (21.73%). Four patients had Behçet’s disease (17.39%). DVT revealed neoplasia in 3 cases (13%): 2 men had bronchopulmonary cancer and one woman, followed for endometrial neoplasia, had metastasis in the thymic compartment. The survey was negative in 5 patients (21.73%).

The evolution under anticoagulants was favorable in 21 patients. Elsewhere, DVT was fatal in one case and complicated by pulmonary embolism in one patient.

Conclusion(s): DVT of the upper limb is associated with a higher mortality rate. This is due to the underlying disease. Hence, it is important to carry out an etiological investigation in search of neoplasia or autoimmune diseases.

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ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/characteristics-of-the-deep-vein-thrombosis-of-the-upper-limb/