DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN ASSIR REGION OF SAUDI-ARABIA - CASE-CONTROLSTUDY

In a five-year case-control study (1988 to 1993) at Assir Central Hosp ital (AGH), Abha (8,000 feet above sea level), Saudi Arabia, 92 of 129 patients suspected of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were studied with asccending contrast venography (CV) (74 patients, 80.4%) or Doppler ul trasonography (DUS) (18 patients, 19.6%). Female-to-male ratio was 2.3 to 1. Age range of patients was twelve to ninety years; mean age was 44.45 yrs +/- 17.38 years. DVT hospital incidence was 18 per 10,000 ad missions. The most common associated factors included immobilization d ue to chronic diseases (21.7%), trauma and surgery (19.6%), and pregna ncy and oral contraceptives usage (16.3%). The most common symptom and sign were limb pain and tenderness (95.6%). Limb swelling was noted i n 93.5% of patients. The left lower limb was more commonly affected th an the right. There was a definite increase of DVT during the winter m onths. Altitude was not a contributory factor. Pulmonary embolism was the greatest complication.