Deep vein thrombosis<\/b>, or deep venous thrombosis<\/b> (DVT<\/b>), is the formation of a blood clot<\/a> (thrombus) within a deep vein<\/a>,[a]<\/a><\/sup> most commonly the legs. Nonspecific signs may include pain, swelling<\/a>, redness, warmness, and engorged superficial veins<\/a>. Pulmonary embolism<\/a>, a potentially life-threatening complication<\/a>, is caused by the detachment (embolization<\/a>) of a clot that travels to the lungs. Together, DVT and pulmonary embolism constitute a single disease process known as venous thromboembolism<\/a>. Post-thrombotic syndrome<\/a>, another complication, significantly contributes to the health-care cost of DVT.<\/p>\n In 1856, German pathologist Rudolf Virchow<\/a> postulated the interplay of three processes resulting in venous thrombosis, now known as Virchow’s triad<\/a>: a decreased blood flow rate (venous stasis<\/a>), increased tendency to clot (hypercoagulability<\/a>), and changes to the blood vessel wall<\/a>. DVT formation typically begins inside the valves of the calf<\/a> veins, where the blood is relatively oxygen deprived, which activates certain biochemical pathways<\/a>. Several medical conditions increase the risk for (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Deep vein thrombosis, or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a deep vein,[a] most commonly the legs. Nonspecific signs may include pain, swelling, redness, warmness, and engorged superficial veins. Pulmonary embolism, a potentially…<\/span><\/p>\n