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Villalta Score for Post-thrombotic Syndrome (PTS)

Grades severity of post-thrombotic syndrome after lower-limb DVT.

Villalta Score for Post-thrombotic Syndrome (PTS)
Pain (patient-reported)
Cramps (patient-reported)
Heaviness (patient-reported)
Paresthesia (patient-reported)
Pruritus (patient-reported)
Pretibial edema (clinician-assessed)
Skin induration (clinician-assessed)
Hyperpigmentation (clinician-assessed)
Redness / erythema (clinician-assessed)
Venous ectasia (clinician-assessed)
Pain on calf compression (clinician-assessed)
Presence of a venous ulcer
A venous ulcer automatically classifies the limb as severe PTS regardless of the numeric score.
Result0 points

No PTS.

Villalta score
0
Category
No PTS

When to use

  • Grading the severity of post-thrombotic syndrome at follow-up visits after a documented lower-limb DVT.

Formula

Sum of 5 patient-reported symptoms and 6 clinician-assessed signs, each graded 0 (none) to 3 (severe); range 0-33. A venous ulcer automatically defines severe PTS. Categories: 0-4 none, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, >=15 (or ulcer) severe.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Should be assessed no earlier than 3-6 months after the acute DVT to avoid confounding by residual acute symptoms.
  • The most widely used outcome measure for PTS in clinical trials.

References

  1. Villalta S, Bagatella P, Piccioli A, et al. Haemostasis. 1994;24:158a (original description).
  2. Kahn SR, et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2009;7(5):879-83 (standardization statement).