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May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS)

Quick answer

May-Thurner syndrome happens when your right iliac artery presses your left iliac vein against your spine. It is also called iliac vein compression syndrome, and it raises the risk of a deep vein thrombosis in your left leg, a clot that partly or fully blocks blood flow. Most people get no warning. If a clot forms, that leg may swell, ache, look red or purple, or feel warm.

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS), also known as the iliac vein compression syndrome, is caused when the left iliac vein is compressed up against the spine by the right iliac artery, which increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the left extremity. DVT is a blood clot that may partially or completely block blood flow through the vein.

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) illustration

What are the symptoms of MTS?

You likely won’t even know you have May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) unless you get a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). You might get pain or swelling in your leg, but usually, there aren’t any warning signs.

With a DVT, your left leg may show symptoms such as:

  • changes in skin color, with it looking more red or purple than normal
  • swelling, pain or tenderness
  • feeling of increased warmth in the leg
  • enlargement of the veins in the leg

Primary risk factors of MTS:

You’re more likely to get May-Thurner syndrome if you:

  • are female
  • have scoliosis
  • just had a baby
  • have had more than one child
  • take oral birth control
  • are dehydrated
  • have a condition that causes your blood to clot too much

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I Need to See a Doctor for Varicose Veins?

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Though rare in children, they can develop varicose veins if there’s a family history of the condition. Most cases only require monitoring and healthy lifestyle changes. However, a specialist may suggest noninvasive treatments to prevent larger varicose veins from developing as the child grows.

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Dr. Moinakhtar Lala and Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi of CACVI

Dr. M Lala, Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi and Dr. V Lala

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The Center for Advanced Cardiac and Vascular Interventions (CACVI) is led by Dr. M Lala, Dr. Khorsandi, and Dr. V Lala, who have over thirty years of practice with over 15,000 vascular and cardiac procedures performed. Our physicians are determined to provide each patient with experienced, compassionate care as they work diligently to improve your health.

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