Deep vein thrombosis in patients with stroke

A frequent condition affecting patients with stroke is venous thromboembolism (VTE), which consists of two components: deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism as its complication The main risk factors of VTE are: age over 65 years, motor deficit with immobilisation, heart failure, infection, obesity and coagulopathy Typical symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (pain, tenderness, swelling of calf and increased skin temperature) can be masked by sensory and autonomic deficits following brain ischaemia Diagnosis of VTE is based on clinical symptoms confirmed by biochemical and radiological findings The treatment of VTE consists of anticoagulation; prevention of VTE in stroke patients is based on use of low-molecular heparins and non-pharmacological methods.