FOLLOW-UP-STUDY OF PATIENTS WITH CLINICALLY SUSPECTED DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND A NORMAL VENOGRAM

Objectives. To evaluate the clinical course in patients with clinicall y suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the leg and a normal venog ram. Design. Prospective study over 15 months with a follow-up of 4-12 (median 8.6) months after a normal venogram. A questionnaire survey w as performed at follow-up. Information from general practitioners and medical records was reviewed. An alternative diagnosis was established at presentation and at the time of follow-up. Setting. The Department of Internal Medicine in a Danish university hospitals.Subjects. A tot al of 133 consecutive out-patients referred with clinical suspicion of DVT and a normal venogram. Main outcome measures. The state of sympto ms at follow-up. The frequency of referrals to hospitals and contacts with general practitioners or medical specialists in the follow-up per iod. Clinical diagnoses provided at presentation and at follow-up. Res ults. The follow-up response rate was 78% (n = 104). The symptoms were still present at follow-up in 53 (51%) patients. More than half of th e patients had been referred to medical facilities for the same disord er. Diagnoses could be established in 93 (70%) of the 133 patients at presentation and in 119 (89%) at follow-up. Conclusions. The majority of patients with clinical signs and symptoms of a DVT and a normal ven ogram may require a follow-up surveillance programme to ensure correct diagnosis and adequate treatment. Further studies are recommended to confirm our results and to assess the cost-effectiveness.