Common Iliac Vein Stenosis and Risk of Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism: An Inverse Correlation

Iliac Vein Compression as Risk Factor for Left- versus Right-Sided Deep Venous Thrombosis: Case-Control Study

“…In a study of 75 patients with unilateral DVT, Chan et al (5) found that LCIV compression (compressed diameter, ,4 mm) was associated with decreased odds of symptomatic PE. These results provide some support for the hypothesis that LCIV compression may impede clot progression to the Table 5 Outcomes popliteal DVT.…”

Correlation of the Diameter of the Left Common Iliac Vein with the Risk of Lower-extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis

“…Previous studies have also evaluated the patent portion of the LCIV lumen and shown a relationship between LCIV stenosis and likelihood of DVT (3,4,7,8,13,15). However, other risk factors for DVT were not included in their analysis, nor was the relationship of degree of stenosis studied with respect to risk of DVT.…”

“…The minimum diameter of the LCIV in cross section was measured at the point of maximal compression by the right common iliac artery crossing anteriorly. This methodology has previously been described in more detail (8,13). All patients had unilateral left-sided DVTs, and therefore the contralateral right CIV minimum diameter was used as an internal control.…”

“…We hypothesized that, as LCIV diameter decreased, the odds of developing left lower-extremity DVT increased, independent of other risk factors for DVT. (8). We excluded those older than 45 years to reduce the likelihood of extrinsic compression of the LCIV by a source other than IVCS, such as pelvic malignancy (9,10).…”

May Thurner Syndrome: A case based review

“…Although DVT may be common in May-Thurner syndrome, very few patients progress to large pulmonary embolism. One study found an inverse correlation between the severity of stenosis and symptomatic pulmonary embolism in these patients [9]. This may be due to a "protective" effect of luminal narrowing from spur formation and possible trapping of large emboli that may otherwise go to the lungs [10].…”