Abstract
A 43-year-old woman presented with severe anaemia secondary to menorrhagia. Pelvic ultrasound showed a large intramural posterior fundal fibroid. Hysteroscopy showed the fibroid distorting the endometrial cavity, precluding Mirena® device insertion. As she was initially hesitant to have a hysterectomy, medical management with the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and tranexamic acid was instituted, with good effect. Months later, after a long road trip, she presented with left leg swelling, and a Doppler ultrasound confirmed an extensive deep vein thrombosis (DVT). She was commenced on warfarin for anticoagulation but presented again with menorrhagia precipitated by overanticoagulation. After initial stabilization with multiple blood transfusions and reversal of anticoagulation, the warfarin was ceased in favour of enoxaparin and she underwent inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion prior to a total abdominal hysterectomy. Mass effect from large uterine fibroids can cause venous thromboembolism (VTE). A duplex ultrasound of the lower limbs if a woman presents with a large fibroid could identify asymptomatic DVTs in such women. A prehysterectomy IVC filter would then reduce their risk of postoperative pulmonary embolism. Medical management of menorrhagia with procoagulants should be avoided for management of menorrhagia in such women given their higher risk of developing VTE.
1. Introduction
Virchow’s triad of venous stasis, endothelial damage, and hypercoagulability has been used to describe the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism for over a century [1].
Venous stasis is caused by immobility due to recent surgery or illness or a sedentary lifestyle. Stasis is also due to any obstruction to blood flow. Endothelial damage results from trauma, such as lower limb fractures, or from excess venous compression during surgery or travel. A hypercoagulable state is caused by multiple factors, such as malignancy, pregnancy, polycythaemia, thrombocytosis, acquired and inherited thrombophilias, use of exogenous oestrogen (e.g., the oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy) [2], and other medications such as tranexamic acid [3].
Leiomyomas or uterine fibroids are benign, monoclonal tumours of the smooth muscle cells in the uterus [4]. Women with fibroids can remain asymptomatic [5] or may have symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding (menorrhagia, prolonged bleeding, etc.), dyspareunia, and pelvic pain [6].
Women with leiomyomas are also at an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism due to multiple different mechanisms. Polycythaemia and reactive thrombocytosis have been seen in women with menorrhagia due to fibroids [2], and these are risk factors for venous thromboembolism [7, 8]. Mass effect from benign space occupying lesions, including large uterine fibroids, can result in venous stasis of the lower limbs, leading to venous thromboembolism (VTE) [2, 9–12]. Pathological, nonuniform enlargement of the uterus is more likely to cause impingement of pelvic veins than uniform enlargement of the uterus (as seen in pregnancy) [2].
We report a case of a multiple risk factors leading to a massive deep venous thrombosis in a woman with a large uterine leiomyoma.
2. Case Presentation
A 43-year-old woman presented with severe anaemia secondary to menorrhagia. She was symptomatic of dizziness, shortness of breath on exertion, and worsening fatigue. She reported having increasingly heavy and painful periods for 2 years, requiring 5-6 pads per day. She had regular 30-day cycles, and her periods lasted 5-6 days. She had previously tried oral contraceptive pills (OCP) but had experienced headaches with their use and hence had ceased them. She was a nonsmoker and had had one vaginal delivery 16 years ago.
On examination, she was found to be tachycardic but normotensive. She had a soft nontender abdomen. Her uterus was enlarged and palpable and corresponded to 16 weeks’ gestation. On vaginal examination, there was a mass felt in the pouch of Douglas. Her cervix appeared normal.
Her haemoglobin was 55 g/L. Pelvic ultrasound showed an intramural posterior fundal fibroid measuring 9.3 × 9.1 × 10.8 cm. Endometrial thickness was 3 mm.
After initial resuscitation with IV fluids and 3 units of packed red blood cells, she underwent a hysteroscopy, which showed the fibroid distorting the endometrial cavity, precluding endometrial biopsy and Mirena® device placement. As she was initially hesitant to have a hysterectomy, medical management was instituted with tranexamic acid and a different OCP than that used previously, with good effect.
Fifteen months later, she presented again on day 2 of her periods after a syncopal episode at home. She had a postural drop in her blood pressure (99 mmHg to 76 mmHg systolic from lying to standing). She was admitted for observation and given tranexamic acid to stop her bleeding. Her haemoglobin dropped from 89 g/L to 65 g/L during that admission. She was again counselled regarding permanent methods of management of menorrhagia and consented to a hysterectomy.
While awaiting her hysterectomy, she went on a long road trip and presented again with left leg swelling and tightness. She denied chest pain or shortness of breath. Circumferential measurements of her legs supported the diagnosis of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (Table 1).
Doppler ultrasound of the left limb showed an extensive deep vein thrombosis involving the iliac, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and gastrocnemius veins (Figure 1). The uterine fibroid was found to be compressing the left common iliac vein.
(a)
(b)
She was commenced on warfarin for anticoagulation but presented again with menorrhagia and was found to be severely anaemic and overanticoagulated. Her haemoglobin was 54 g/L and INR 6.6. She was stabilized with multiple blood transfusions and reversal of anticoagulation. After consultation with a haematologist, her warfarin was ceased in favour of enoxaparin. She underwent fluoroscopy-guided inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion (Figure 2) prior to a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy. Significant endometriosis was an unexpected incidental intraoperative finding.
Histology confirmed a benign leiomyoma measuring 14 × 9 cm with foci of red degeneration and minor adenomyosis (Figure 3). The uterus weighed 1490 g.
The patient was restarted on enoxaparin 6 hours postoperatively and underwent removal of the IVC filter a few weeks after the hysterectomy.
3. Discussion
In this case, the patient had multiple factors contributing to the development of her DVT. The large fibroid uterus compressed her left common iliac vein, causing venous stasis. She also had been on a long road trip, and this period of prolonged immobility resulted in further venous stasis. Her severe menorrhagia was treated with the oral contraceptive pill and tranexamic acid, both of which have a procoagulant effect.
Women with large uterine fibroids may have asymptomatic DVTs that they and their clinicians may be unaware of. A hysterectomy to treat symptoms caused by the fibroid(s) could potentially release the occlusive effect of the fibroid uterus on deep pelvic veins. This may inadvertently lead to a pulmonary embolus immediately after hysterectomy, which can be fatal.
Duplex ultrasound of the lower limbs should be considered if a woman presents with a large fibroid uterus. This could identify asymptomatic DVTs in such women. A prehysterectomy IVC filter would then reduce their risk of postoperative pulmonary embolism.
Large fibroids usually result in menorrhagia. In many instances, this is managed medically with the oral contraceptive pill and/or tranexamic acid, while awaiting definitive surgery. However, the procoagulant effect of these drugs increases the risk of venous thromboembolism in such women [13, 14].
Medical management of menorrhagia with procoagulants (e.g., the oral contraceptive pill or tranexamic acid) should be avoided for management of menorrhagia in such women given their higher risk of developing VTE. Thromboprophylaxis must be offered to women with large leiomyomas who plan to undertake long trips [15].
Competing Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.