Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Approximately 30% of patients with DVT develop pulmonary embolism, of whom 10% die, and 50% of patients with DVT develop long-term sequelae like the postthrombotic syndrome.
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Clinical Perspective on p 440Treatment of DVT is usually achieved with anticoagulation (heparin, warfarin) or thrombolysis (plasminogen activators). Anticoagulants prevent thrombus expansion but have little effect on thrombus resolution, which occurs slowly through a natural process of organization that eventually leads to recanalization of the vein. 1,3,4 Thrombolytic agents rapidly remove the thrombus, aiding faster vein recanalization, with less thrombus recurrence and fewer postthrombotic complications.5 Systemic thrombolysis is, however, associated with serious complications, including bleeding and pulmonary emboli. Selection criteria for identifying patients who might benefit from thrombolytic treatment are based on a subjective assessment of patient history. [5][6][7] Catheter-directed thrombolysis has reduced the rate of complications, but the time interval between the onset of symptoms and effective thrombolysis is still unclear. Several studies have shown that thrombolysis might be ineffective if administered 10 to 21 days after the onset of symptoms. [8][9][10] Fibrin-rich thrombus seems to be more amenable to thrombolysis, and incorporation of collagen into a fibrin clot dramatically decreases the effectiveness of fibrinolysis in experimental models. 11,12 Identification of the extracellular protein milieu and structural microenvironment of the thrombus might therefore provide important prognostic information on its lysability.Background-Deep vein thrombosis remains a major health problem necessitating accurate diagnosis. Thrombolysis is associated with significant morbidity and is effective only for the treatment of unorganized thrombus. We tested the feasibility of in vivo magnetization transfer (MT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to detect thrombus organization in a murine model of deep vein thrombosis. Methods and Results-Deep vein thrombosis was induced in the inferior vena cava of male BALB/C mice. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after thrombus induction using MT, diffusion-weighted, inversion-recovery, and T1-mapping protocols. Delayed enhancement and T1 mapping were repeated 2 hours after injection of a fibrin contrast agent. Finally, excised thrombi were used for histology. We found that MT and diffusion-weighted imaging can detect histological changes associated with thrombus aging. MT rate (MTR) maps and percentage of MT rate (%MTR) allowed visualization and quantification of the thrombus protein content, respectively. The %MTR increased with thrombus organization and was significantly higher at days 14, 21, and 28 after thrombus induction (days 1, Ultrasound examination, used in the diagnosis of DVT, provides only information...