People living with HIV face an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—potentially dangerous blood clots in major blood vessels—according to a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine study published in the July 1 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Left undiagnosed and untreated, DVT can cause pain, swelling and numbness-usually in the legs-and can also travel to the pulmonary artery in the chest and cause a life-threatening blockage (pulmonary embolism). Studies suggest that 1 to 2 percent of HIV-positive people develop DVT at some point in their lives, which is a rate 10 times higher than expected among people without HIV.
To confirm these results, Aima Ahonkhai, MD, and her colleagues investigated the incidence of DVT among patients in the Johns Hopkins University AIDS Service cohort. They found the risk of DVT among HIV-positive patients to be approximately 0.54 percent per patient per year—comparable to what has been reported by other research teams. Compared with patients in the cohort who hadn't developed DVT, those who did were more likely to have slightly lower CD4 counts, higher viral loads and low hemoglobin levels preceding their DVT diagnosis. The use of antiretroviral therapy was not associated with DVT.
The authors suggest further studies elucidating why DVT risk is higher in people living with HIV are important. They write, "…the mortality from [pulmonary embolism] is high, and the morbidity from DVT is great. With the tremendous recent gains in life expectancy for patients with HIV/AIDS, addressing the threat of [DVT] is increasingly appropriate."
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comments 1 - 3 (of 3 total)
JulieSheren, Alanson, 2008-07-23 12:36:48
I have had AIDS for 10 yrs and 2 yrs ago had a clot travel from my ankle to my lung. This is so scary and every time I ask how I can know if another one is going to form, I am told since I was given Coumadin I should be OK now. This doesn't allay my fears. Is there any way to scan for DVT?
Jerry Robbins, Saint Petersburg, 2008-07-08 12:22:01
It is the HIV associated Meds that interfere with the coumadin that makes the clotting a risk or bleeding in my case. This is a second post since the first didn't allow enough characters. Thanks,Jerry
Jerry, Saint Petersburg, 2008-07-03 22:01:43
Hi, I have a rare anti-thrombin iii deficiency, which is like the reverse of hemophelia. so it has been a struggle having HIV on top of this and the meds continue to raise and lower my INR readings. Causing me trouble with either more clots or bleeding because of to much blood thinner. Since HIV I have had three instances, One was a major pulmonary embolis, the other rececently I had a rupture for the first time in thirtyone years. So , I am evedence that HIV plays a major role in the clotting.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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