Perspective on the hospital incidence rate of deep venous coagulopathy: Clinical and biochemical diagnostic markers

BACKGROUND: Identifying factors contributing to the increased risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in each population is vital, because of its life-threatening outcome. The current study aims to find the diagnostic performance of some laboratory coagulation markers for predicting DVT in an Iranian population complaining of DVT in the lower limbs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For this study, 66 consecutive patients with documented DVT, admitted to the Al-Zahra Hospital in Isfahan for the first time, were considered as the case group and 33 patients without DVT documentations were included as the control group. DVT was considered when there was visualization of thrombus or non-compressibility of the vein, confirmed by bilateral lower extremity compression Doppler ultrasonographic examination. Homocysteine, antiphospholipid, and anticardiolipin antibodies were measured in both groups by using sensitive ELISA kits. Protein C was measured via a functional clotting method, and prothrombin was measured by a kinetic, enzymatic assay. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis showed that the serum homocysteine levels was potentially associated with the presence of DVT after adjusting for age and gender (OR: 1.038, 95% CI: 1.007-1.070, P = 0.017). Comparison of the C statistic showed a partially good discrimination of homocysteine for DVT, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve being 0.614 and with the optimal cut-off value of 16.5 micromol/L (μmol/L) for men and 14.5 μmol/L for women. CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemia could be considered as an independent risk factor for DVT, with an actual acceptable prognostic value, in the Iran population.