Uterine vein thrombosis: an unusual variant of pelvic vein thrombophlebitis

Acute abdominal pain as the presenting symptom of isolated iliac vein thrombosis in pregnancy

BACKGROUND

The incidence of iliac vein thrombosis in pregnancy is quite low; however when it does occur, delay in diagnosis can have significant sequelae. We report a pregnant woman who presented with severe acute abdominal pain secondary to isolated iliac vein thrombosis.

CASE

A primigravida presented at 33 weeks of gestation with acute onset of severe left-sided lower abdominal pain. A magnetic resonance imaging study revealed isolated left iliac vein thrombosis. After treatment with heparin her pain completely resolved.

CONCLUSION

Iliac vein thrombosis may cause acute abdominal pain in pregnant women and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when other common causes of pain have been excluded.