Isolated Distal Vein Deep Vein Thrombosis: Diagnosis and Management Strategies

This multicentre prospective cohort study enrolled patients with isolated distal deep vein DVT in Australia and New Zealand. 140 (70%) were assigned to two weeks anticoagulation (asymptomatic; group C); 56 (28%) to group B (ongoing symptoms; 6 weeks anticoagulation); and three patients (2%) had proximal extension on 2-week ultrasound (group A). Two patients in the two-week anticoagulation arm had symptomatic distal DVT recurrence; VTE recurrence rate 3/131; 2.3% (95% CI 0.47-6.55%). There were no symptomatic proximal DVT/PE recurrences, no major bleeding episodes, and a low rate of mild PTS (4.3%, 95% CI 1.7-8.6%), with no episodes of severe PTS.