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Deep vein thrombosis among injecting drug users in Sheffield
  1. V A Cooke,
  2. A K Fletcher
  1. The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 V A Cooke
 The Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK;Cooke{at}sth.nhs.uk

Abstract

Aims: To identify the proportion of patients testing positive for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who are injecting drug users (IDUs), and examine differences in the investigation and management of this group compared with non-IDUs.

Methods: Analysis of data collected from emergency department records and a review of patient notes.

Results: All patients in this study who were known to inject recreational drugs tested positive for DVT on Doppler ultrasound scan.

Conclusions: IDUs should be considered at high risk of developing DVT and should be investigated accordingly.

  • DVT, deep vein thrombosis
  • IDU, injecting drug user
  • LMWH, low-molecular weight heparins
  • USS, ultra sound scan

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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