Venous thromboembolism: deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis alone, and pulmonary embolism alone.

BACKGROUND: There are few data on the differences between deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with pulmonary embolism (PE) (Group A) and without PE (Group B), and no recent data on the incidence of PE and DVT in Japan.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The symptoms and findings of the lower extremities and risks for venous thromboembolism were compared between Groups A and B, and the numbers of new patients with PE and those with DVT in 2006 were calculated. DVT was found equally in left and right legs in Group A, but more frequently in left legs than in right legs in Group B. Proximal thrombus was more frequent in Group A than in Group B, and the number of cases of symptoms resulting from DVT was less in Group A than in Group B. Proximal DVT, DVT in the right leg, no symptoms, and younger age were related to the presence of PE. The calculated number of new patients with PE per year was 7,864 (3,492 cases in 1996), and that with DVT per year was 14,674.

CONCLUSION: DVT in patients with PE and those without PE differed in the site and symptoms. The calculated number of new patients with PE per year doubled in 1 decade in Japan.