Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a serious complication of various medical conditions including acute stroke. Our aim was to identify the occurrence of early stroke-related DVT, risk factors for its development and the influence on outcome. The study involved consecutive patients admitted to our center due to acute ischaemic (n = 278) or haemorrhagic (n = 12) stroke during a 16-month period. We collected data on their pre-stroke health status, neurological deficit on admission and baseline serum CRP and fibrinogen level. Ultrasonographic imaging was performed at the 3rd (IQR: 2–4) and 9th (IQR: 8–9) day after stroke. Patients thrombosis occurring between the first and second examination comprised the newly developed early stroke-related DVT group. We found DVT in 8.0% (24/299) of patients at initial evaluation. Newly developed DVT was present in 3.0% (9/299) of patients, and was predominantly distal (7 of 9 cases). It was associated with elevated serum CRP level (OR 8.75; 95%CI: 1.61–47.6), which was verified in a model adjusted for stroke severity and pre-stroke dependency (3–5 pts. in mRS). In a multivariate model, newly developed DVT significantly increased the risk of 3-month mortality (OR 12.4; 95%CI: 1.72–89.4), without affecting the combined risk of dependency and death (OR 2.57; 95%CI: 0.39–17.0). Early stroke-related DVT is an infrequent complication. However, it may be an independent risk factor for 3-month mortality. Increased serum CRP level combined with normal fibrinogen level seems predictive for development of DVT. It may be reasonable to provide those patients with additional DVT prophylaxis.

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According to our findings, elevated routine serum CRP measured within 24 h after admission does not seem to independently affect the outcome in patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis for stroke. However, further studies of blood samples taken directly before the treatment are needed.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a complication of stroke. Our aim was to determine the frequency of DVT in patients with acute stroke, risk factors for its development, and its influence on the 3-month outcome. A total of 323 consecutive patients with acute stroke were enrolled. We performed ultrasound imaging within 7 days after stroke. Deep venous thrombosis was found in 8.7% of patients, only in those with ischemic stroke. Patients with DVT were more frequently female (71.4% vs 49.5%), had prestroke Modified Rankin scale (mRS) 3 to 5 (42.9% vs 15.3%), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) serum level (65.4% vs 32.5%), and a trend toward elevated serum fibrinogen level (85.7% vs 70.1%; P = .08). In a multivariate analysis, elevated CRP (odds ratio [OR] 3.15) and prestroke disability (OR 2.89) were independent risk factors for DVT. Deep venous thrombosis occurs in <10% of patients with acute stroke and does not significantly affect the 3-month outcome. Prestroke dependency and elevated CRP level at baseline are independent risk factors for DVT.