Argentine Registry of Venous Thromboembolism

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) with its two presentations: deep vein thrombosis(DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascularmorbidity and mortality. To obtain national data on this pathology, the Council ofCardiovascular Emergencies and the Research Area of the Argentine Society of Cardiologyconducted a prospective registry of patients with confirmed VTE in 54 centersduring one year. Methods Patients with confirmed VTE were included in a prospective, consecutive and continuousregistry during 2009-2010 in 54 participating centers of the Autonomous Cityof Buenos Aires and the rest of the country (n = 26 and 28, respectively). Individualpatient data were registered in an electronic form.ResultsOne hundred and eighty one patients with median age of 66 years (53-79), 59% ofwhich were women, were included in the study. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosedin 34%, DVT in 33% and PE + DVT in 33%. The most prevalent risk factors wereprolonged rest in 42% of cases, cancer in 20%, history of VTE in 10% and none in9%. All DVT were diagnosed by venous Doppler. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosedby spiral CT scan (86%), ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (16%) and arteriography(0.8%). Seventy percent of patients received low molecular weight heparin, 40%unfractionated heparin, 11% thrombolytic agents and 10% had no treatment. Venacava filter was used in 12% of cases and mechanical ventilation in 9%. Recurrent PEwas observed in 4% of patients, shock in 14% and in-hospital mortality was 7%.ConclusionsProlonged rest was the most prevalent risk factor. Only 9% of patients showed noknown risk factors. Helical CT scan was the preferred method for PE diagnosis.Low molecular weight heparin was the treatment of choice for VTE. Thrombolyticswere used in 11% of PE patients and vena cava filter in 12% of VTE patients. VTEin-hospital mortality was 7%.