Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Common femoral vein wall thickness in antiphospholipid syndrome: a potential imaging biomarker
Authors' conclusion
In patients with uncertain APS diagnosis based on clinical manifestations and/or aPL positivity, measurement of VWT by ultrasonography may serve as a useful adjunctive tool in the diagnostic process.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), chronic non-inflammatory deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and healthy controls (HCs), enrolled October 2024–June 2025
- Participants
- 55 / 21 / 28
- Exposure
- APS vs chronic non-inflammatory DVT vs HCs
- APSn = 55
- Chronic DVTn = 21reference
- HCn = 28reference
- Outcome
- Ultrasonographic bilateral CFV posterior wall thickness
Methodological detailsage- and sex-matched healthy controls, radiologists blinded to clinical information
- Age- and sex-matched healthy controls
- Radiologists blinded to clinical information
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CFV wall thickness
| Group | Value | Left common femoral vein (CFV) mean ± SD (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| APS | mean 0.535 (SD 0.058) mm | 0.529 ± 0.065 |
| Chronic DVT | mean 0.405 (SD 0.066) mm | 0.377 ± 0.039 |
| HC | mean 0.392 (SD 0.043) mm | 0.388 ± 0.043 |
Value
APSmean 0.535 (SD 0.058) mm
Chronic DVTmean 0.405 (SD 0.066) mm
HCmean 0.392 (SD 0.043) mm
Left common femoral vein (CFV) mean ± SD (mm)
APS0.529 ± 0.065
Chronic DVT0.377 ± 0.039
HC0.388 ± 0.043
- APS vs Chronic DVT: P < 0.001 — right and left CFV
- APS vs HC: P < 0.001 — right and left CFV
- Chronic DVT vs HC: P = 1.0 — no significant difference
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
CFV wall thickness in APS subgroups
- No significant difference between APS with and without concomitant SLE
- No difference by aPL profile or prior venous thrombosis history
ROC analysis of venous wall thickness (VWT) for APS
- Optimal cut-off, right CFV (mm)
- 0.443
- Optimal cut-off, left CFV (mm)
- 0.445
- AUC
- >0.94
- P
- P < 0.001
- High sensitivity and specificity
Original publication
Common femoral vein wall thickness in antiphospholipid syndrome: a potential imaging biomarker. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 12 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →