Blood Clot in the Legs
(Deep Vein Thrombosis, DVT)

• Leg Blood Clot Overview
• Leg Blood Clot Causes
• Leg Blood Clot Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Leg Blood Clot Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
  • Learn more about medications like warfarin (Coumadin) on RxList.com.
• Surgery
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Leg Blood Clot Overview

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) refers to a blood clot embedded in one of the major deep veins of the lower legs, thighs, or pelvis. A clot blocks blood circulation through these veins, which carry blood from the lower body back to the heart. The blockage can cause pain, swelling, or warmth in the affected leg.

Blood clots in the veins can cause inflammation (irritation) called thrombophlebitis. Severe complications of DVT occur when a clot breaks loose (or embolizes) and travels through the bloodstream, causing blockage of blood vessels (pulmonary arteries) in the lung. Called pulmonary embolism, this can lead to severe difficulty in breathing and even death, depending on the degree of blockage.

In the United States, about 2 million people per year develop DVT. Most of them are aged 40 years or older. Up to 600,000 are hospitalized each year for the condition.

DVT can lead to a more serious complication, blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism). Statistics reveal that at least 650,000 patients die each year from pulmonary embolism, making it the third most common cause of death in the United States.