Infection, Inflammation, Venous Thromboembolism: A Co-existence

Aims: Venous thromboembolism is a state of hypercoaguability occurring due to various risk factors causing a prothrombotic state. In this case series, 3 cases are discussed where patients presented as DVT revealing underlying infection later on during the progression of it’s course.

Place of Study: Department of Medicine, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi and VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital.

Case Series: Case Series – In Case 1, a 25 year old male presented with DVT and was started on anticoagulants. While other risk factors were ruled out, further investigations then were suggestive of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. In Case 2, a 17 year old female with a lower limb swelling suggestive of DVT, with loose stools was found to be positive for Clostridium Difficile infection. In Case 3, a 14 year old boy presenting with a knee swelling with synovitis positive for Staphylococcus aureus also revealed popliteal vein thrombosis.

Discussion: Infections cause a systemic inflammatory response causing increased procoagulant factors, endothelial damage further causing Venous thrombosis.

Conclusion: In patients presenting with venous thromboembolism, infections, systemic or local should be ruled out along with all the known risk factors.