BACKGROUND: Preventing relapse is a basic goal in the treatment of DVT and requires investigation of risk factors for recurrence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We recruited and retrospectively reviewed 218 patients with recurrent DVT in the lower extremities diagnosed in our hospital from 2001 to 2012.

RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed the incidence of recurrent DVT in patients with concomitant malignancy was 3 times higher than that in patients without malignancy (P<0.01); the incidence of recurrent DVT in patients with inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) at initial treatment was increased by 4.3 times as compared to patients treated with other modalities. In addition, pathological types of DVT (P=0.047), diabetes (P=0.040), nephrotic syndrome (NS; P=0.040), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; P=0.031) and poor compliance after discharge (P=0.030) were closely related to increased incidence of recurrent DVT. However, age (t=–1.927, P=0.055), gender (P=0.664), primary hypertension (P=0.098), embolectomy (P=0.367), and anti-coagulation (P=0.338) at initial treatment were not associated with recurrence of DVT. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk for recurrent DVT in patients with concomitant malignancy was 3.5 times higher than that in patients without malignancy (OR=3.494, P<0.05); the risk for recurrent DVT in patients with IVCF at initial treatment was increased by 4.6 times as compared to patients treated with other modalities (OR=4.658, P<0.05). Pathological types of DVT, concomitant diabetes, NS, SLE and poor compliance after discharge were not associated with the risk for recurrent DVT (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant malignancy and IVCF at initial treatment are independent risk factors for recurrent DVT in the lower extremities.

Keywords: Risk Factors, Venous Thrombosis, Diabetes Complications - physiopathology, Leg - physiopathology, Logistic Models, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications, Multivariate Analysis, Nephrotic Syndrome - complications, Odds Ratio, Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data, Recurrence, Vena Cava Filters - adverse effects, Venous Thrombosis - physiopathology