Blood clots can present as deep venous thrombosis (DVT), stroke, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction/heart attack, or damage to any organ. Clots that block the arterial blood supply or form in the venous drainage system for an organ can lead to death of cells in that organ . Any organ can be affected including the kidneys, intestines (mesenteric ischemia) and adrenal glands. Symptoms vary, depending upon the organ system injured.
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
The symptoms of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) include swelling, pain and discoloration. The discoloration can be as simple as redness. A difference in size may be obvious between the circumference of one leg when compared to the other. DVTs usually are not present on both sides of the body at the same time. There can be tenderness with calf compression. The Homan's sign can be positive as well. The Homan's sign refers to a test that physicians do that involves pushing the sole of the foot toward the shin. In patients with a DVT, this sometimes causes extreme pain. Visually, the superficial veins may be distended and prominent. According to MedlinePlus, risk factors for DVTs include procedure on a vein, prolonged bed rest, smoking, fractures, recent pregnancy, certain medications, recent surgery, increased blood cell counts, heart failure, and cancer.
Paget-Schroetter
Paget-Schroetter occurs in only 1 or 2 per 100,000 people per year, according to Dr. Karl Illig and Dr. Adam Doyle, vascular surgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. It is a condition of an upper extremity blood clot that forms due to increased muscle mass size and physical activity. Activities such as rowing, wrestling, weightlifting, and baseball pitching can cause this condition. The symptoms are upper extremity pain with possible swelling.
Stroke
Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when a blood clot stops blood flow to a portion of the brain. The clot can originate anywhere in the body and break off--embolize--into the arterial circulation to reach the brain. Symptoms can vary from weakness, inability to move an arm or leg, slurred speech, facial asymmetry, loss of consciousness, cardiovascular instability, or memory loss due to the location of the stroke and what structures were damaged.
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot stops blood flow to part of the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid respiratory rate, chest pain, cough, coughing up blood, sweating and fever. Many patient have no sign of where the clot originated.
Myocardial Infarction/Heart Attack
Although a myocardial infarction can occur due to progressive change in the diameter of the coronary vessels, it can also occur due to a blood clot. Symptoms of a myocardial infarction include chest pain, upper abdominal pain, shortness of breath, jaw pain, sweating, nausea, arm pain, and a variety of other symptoms. Occasionally, a myocardial infarction can occur without symptoms.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment"; SJ McPhee, MA Papdakis, LM Tierney; 2007
- "MedlinePlus": Deep Venous Thrombosis
- "Journal of Vascular Surgery"; Paget-Schroetter syndrome: A comprehensive review. Dr Karl Illig and Dr Adam Doyle; 2010.
