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Venous thrombosis
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<p>Venous thrombosis is the blockage of a <a href="/facts/Vein/I6ycr6gF">vein</a> caused by a <a href="/facts/Thrombus/vH6FDIQG">thrombus</a> (blood clot). A common form of venous thrombosis is <a href="/facts/Deep_vein_thrombosis/vX7cGv8J">deep vein thrombosis</a> (DVT), when a blood clot forms in the deep veins. If a thrombus breaks off (<a href="/facts/Embolism/A8BD4RoI">embolizes</a>) and flows to the lungs to lodge there, it becomes a <a href="/facts/Pulmonary_embolism/LPjKCPba">pulmonary embolism</a> (PE), a blood clot in the lungs. The conditions of DVT only, DVT with PE, and PE only, are all captured by the term venous thromboembolism (VTE). </p><p>The initial treatment for VTE is typically either <a href="/facts/Low-molecular-weight_heparin/nbqddGbF">low-molecular-weight heparin</a> (LMWH) or <a href="/facts/Unfractionated_heparin/4lxSm2pB">unfractionated heparin</a>, or increasingly with <a href="/facts/Anticoagulant/cARpjm0G">direct acting oral anticoagulants</a> (DOAC). Those initially treated with heparins can be switched to other <a href="/facts/Anticoagulant/cARpjm0G">anticoagulants</a> (<a href="/facts/Warfarin/kMnH6tb0">warfarin</a>, DOACs), although pregnant women and some people with cancer receive ongoing heparin treatment. <a href="/facts/Superficial_venous_thrombosis/Sx6TLzzr">Superficial venous thrombosis</a> or phlebitis affects the superficial veins of the upper or lower extremity and only require anticoagulation in specific situations, and may be treated with anti-inflammatory pain relief only. </p><p>There are other less common forms of venous thrombosis, some of which can also lead to pulmonary embolism. Venous <a href="/facts/Thromboembolism/8Y3wh2UX">thromboembolism</a> and superficial vein thrombosis account for about 90% of venous thrombosis. Other rarer forms include <a href="/facts/Retinal_vein_thrombosis/RFmzMHJL">retinal vein thrombosis</a>, mesenteric vein thrombosis (affecting veins draining blood from the gastrointestinal organs), <a href="/facts/Cerebral_venous_sinus_thrombosis/QHym8gIm">cerebral venous sinus thrombosis</a>, <a href="/facts/Renal_vein_thrombosis/P6zNqIFJ">renal vein thrombosis</a>, and ovarian vein thrombosis. </p>