May-Thurner
syndrome
May-Thurner
syndrome
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What is May-Thurner
syndrome?
Arteries move oxygen-rich blood to your body from your heart. Your tissues use oxygen, and veins carry the oxygen-poor blood back to your heart. Arteries and veins cross each other all over your body without problems, but if you have May-Thurner syndrome, it puts too much pressure on one vein leaving your leg.
May-Thurner syndrome occurs when your right iliac artery presses against your left iliac vein in your pelvis. The right iliac artery sends blood to your right leg, while the left iliac vein takes blood from your left leg.
May-Thurner syndrome could increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in your left leg. That’s because your artery squeezes your vein and restricts blood flow back to your heart.
Iliac vein compression syndrome and Cockett’s syndrome are other names for May-Thurner syndrome.
What are the symptoms of May-Thurner
syndrome?
May-Thurner syndrome can cause leg pain or swelling, but symptoms are rare. Most people don’t know they have the condition until they develop DVT.
DVT with May-Thurner syndrome causes noticeable symptoms in your left leg, like:
Cramping pain
Changes in skin color
Enlarged or visible veins
Heaviness
Tenderness
Throbbing
Swelling
Warmth
On their own, DVTs aren’t life-threatening. However, there’s a risk that the clot could break off and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism (PE). PEs are life-threatening and require immediate medical care
Do I need treatment for May-Thurner
syndrome?
Although the right iliac artery and the left iliac vein naturally cross over each other in your pelvis, not everyone has May-Thurner syndrome. It’s a relatively rare venous condition, unrelated to genetics, and develops randomly.
If you are diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome, the team at Advanced Vascular develops a treatment plan for you that addresses any existing clots and reduces your risk of developing more.
A common treatment for May-Thurner syndrome is angioplasty and a stent. This procedure expands your left iliac vein and holds it open to keep blood flowing normally. Other treatments may include blood-thinning medication, compression socks, or other venous surgeries.
Learn to recognize the signs of May-Thurner syndrome and DVT, so you can get the care you need. Book a consultation at Advanced Vascular by phone to get started.
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