AzTrials
AzTrials

Isolated Distal DVTCALTHRONCT00816920

Natural History of Isolated Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Calf

An observational study of Isolated Distal DVT and Proximal DVT, run by IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna at 2 sites in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Whether isolated distal DVT (IDDVT), DVT confined to the calf, should be looked for and diagnosed to allow them to be treated with anticoagulants remains one of the still unsolved issues in vascular medicine, especially because of the insufficient data on clinical risks of untreated distal DVT. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Ultrasound examination of leg veins
How many people
500 participants
Where
2 sitesItaly
Study dates
Sep 2005to Sep 2009
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: outpatients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of a leg in whom a proximal DVT is excluded. The study is not funded. As a result, it will not be possible to enroll all consecutive eligible patients; rather patients will be included based on the availability of expert medical staff in the day of their presentation (in general the first patient of the day).

Who may be able to join

  • suspected deep vein thrombosis of a leg
  • intermediate/high pre-test clinical probability or high D-dimer levels

Who cannot join

  • age < 18 years
  • presence of proximal DVT
  • suspected isolated iliac DVT
  • symptoms/signs lasting from > 30 days
  • presence of symptoms of pulmonary embolism
  • pregnancy or puerperium
Show all 12Show fewer
  • full dose treatment with heparin or derivatives from > 1 day
  • presence of superficial vein thrombosis
  • limited life expectancy (< 6 months)
  • geographically inaccessible location
  • inability or refusal to give consent
  • participation in other clinical studies

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

Italy2 sites
  • Angiology & Blood Coagulation, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi

    Bologna, 40138

  • Servizio di Fisiopatologia Vascoalre, Casa di Cura Villa Serena

    Pescara, 65100

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Diagnosis and Evolution of Isolated Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Calf in Symptomatic Outpatients. The Blind, Prospective "CALTHRO" Study.

Whether isolated distal DVT (IDDVT), DVT confined to the calf, should be looked for and diagnosed to allow them to be treated with anticoagulants remains one of the still unsolved issues in vascular medicine, especially because of the insufficient data on clinical risks of untreated distal DVT. Management studies have shown that it is safe to withhold anticoagulation in outpatients with suspected DVT if compression ultrasonography (CUS) limited to the proximal deep veins yields normal results on presentation and on repeated examination after 5 to 7 days. This strategy is based on the premise that IDDVT do not need to be diagnosed and treated, what is necessary when they extend involving the proximal veins. There is no general agreement, however, on the assumption that the non-extending IDDVT do not need to be diagnosed and treated, and many authors recommend to perform a single CUS examination extended to the distal deep veins. All the available studies have treated with anticoagulants the diagnosed IDDVT and no adequate information is available on the risk of IDDVT left untreated.

The present study, performed in outpatients with suspected leg DVT, aims at assessing the clinical consequences of IDDVT diagnosed (by a complete US investigation) but not treated because the results of this investigation remain blind to both the patient and the treating doctor, whereas the diagnostic-therapeutic procedure remains the usual one, based on CUS investigation limited to diagnose proximal DVT, to be repeated after 5-7 days (or earlier) to exclude an extension to proximal veins of an IDDVT potentially present.

Read the detailed description

Outpatients symptomatic for suspected DVT of a leg are examined by a vascular doctor according to standard procedure based on pre-test clinical probability (PTCP) assessment, D-dimer assay and a CUS limited to the proximal deep veins. Those in whom a proximal DVT is excluded and have intermediate/high PTCP or altered D-dimer level are eligible for the study. The included patients are immediately submitted to an extensive echo-color-Doppler examination of calf deep veins by a different vascular doctor and results are closed in an envelope that will be open after three months (or before if necessary). In the meantime, patients will follow the standard diagnostic procedure: they receive an appointment to come back in 5-7 days for a further CUS examination, or even before in case of worsening of symptoms/signs. All the included patients receive a telephone call after three months to exclude possible complications.

Being tested
Ultrasound examination of leg veins
Keywords
distal DVT, calf DVT, DVT diagnosis, management of patients with suspected leg DVT
Medical subject headings
Pulmonary Embolism

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Ultrasound examination of leg veinsOther

    Outpatients symptomatic for leg DVT follow the standard diagnostic procedure (ultrasound examination of proximal deep veins, pre-test clinical probability and D-dimer, and a second US after 5-7 days) to exclude proximal DVT; they also receive by another doctor a complete US examination of the deep leg veins to assess the presence of isolated calf DVT, the results of the latter examination are kept blind to the patient and to the treating doctor, and disclosed after three months

Study groups in NCT00816920
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Outpatients with suspected leg DVT after exclusion of proximal DVT
Receives: Other: Ultrasound examination of leg veins

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Thrombotic complications (deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism within three months from first examination

    Measured: three months from first examination

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. other vascular complications; how many isolated distal DVT will be diagnosed

    Measured: three months from first examination

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted5 Jan 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2005
  3. Primary completionSep 2009
  4. Study completionSep 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
500 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00816920
Sponsor's protocol ID
24/2001/O EM60/2007/O
Acronym
CALTHRO
Status last verified
Mar 2021
First submitted
2 Jan 2009
Last updated
22 Mar 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Isolated Distal DVT and Proximal DVT, run by IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna at 2 sites in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Mar 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Thrombotic complications (deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism within three months from first examination (time frame: three months from first examination). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Mar 2021.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in