Sports Legend Tony Gwynn Teams up with Former Baseball Champions to Raise Awareness of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in the National Educational Campaign, 'DVT Blood Clots: Know The Stats. Know Your Risk.'

- DVT is a preventable condition, yet complications kill up to 200,000 Americans every year - NEW YORK, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Former San Diego Padres great Tony Gwynn and other professional baseball legends from coast to coast are uniting to kick off DVT Blood Clots: Know The Stats. Know Your Risk. -- a national campaign to educate the public about the signs, symptoms and risk factors for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Gwynn suffered a blood clot in his calf before knee surgery a few years ago. Today, he is leading the DVT Blood Clots: Know The Stats. Know Your Risk. campaign across the country with other former baseball players including David Cone, Rollie Fingers, Mark Fidrych, Lee Smith, Terry Francona and Phil Niekro, all who have been touched by DVT blood clots in some way. "Before knee surgery, I had tenderness and swelling in my leg. My doctor did an ultrasound and found a blood clot in my calf," Gwynn said. "Fortunately, the blood clot was treated before it did any serious harm. I had never heard of DVT before. Now I feel lucky to be alive." "Tony is a perfect example of how early detection can save a life," says Geno Merli, MD, Director of the Division of Internal Medicine, Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. "People need to recognize the symptoms of DVT and speak to their healthcare professional to determine whether or not they're at risk. Many individuals who are otherwise healthy or hospitalized for some other condition can develop DVT blood clots." After learning how DVT has affected so many others in the baseball community alone, Gwynn is educating individuals nationwide about the condition. His first stop will be at Shea Stadium (Queens, NY), where he'll throw the first pitch on July 1, unveil his DVT awareness video and encourage fans to assess their risk at informational kiosks at the stadium. To learn more about DVT symptoms and assess their risk, people must speak to their healthcare professional. In addition, they can visit DVT Blood Clots: Know The Stats. Know Your Risk. kiosks at Minor League Baseball cities this summer: -- Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Cyclones, July 5-6 -- Chicago, IL - Kane County Cougars, July 19, & Schaumburg Flyers, July 21 -- Durham, NC - Durham Bulls, July 15-16 -- Memphis, TN - Memphis Redbirds, July 22-23 -- Sacramento, CA - Sacramento River Cats, August 5-6 -- Detroit, MI - All-Star FanFest, July 8-12 At the All-Star FanFest, baseball legends Terry Francona, Mark Fidrych, Phil Niekro and Lee Smith will be on-site educating fans about DVT blood clots. DVT Blood Clots: Know The Stats. Know Your Risk. is brought to you by sanofi-aventis. Sanofi-aventis is committed to raising awareness of DVT through various educational programs. About DVT and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) According to the American Heart Association, DVT blood clots affect up to 2 million Americans each year, and complications kill up to 200,000 people in the U.S. annually -- more than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Yet, most Americans (74 percent) have little or no awareness of DVT, according to a national survey sponsored by the American Public Health Association. DVT is a condition resulting from the formation of a blood clot inside a deep vein, commonly located in the calf or thigh. DVT occurs when the blood clot either partially or completely blocks the flow of blood in the vein. A PE is a potentially life-threatening complication and occurs when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs. Symptoms of a PE may include shortness of breath, rapid pulse, excessive sweating, sharp chest pain and very low blood pressure. Preventative treatments for DVT include early mobilization, sequential compression devices to prevent blood clotting, and anticoagulants and/or blood-thinning drugs. It is important to consult your healthcare professional about the signs and symptoms associated with DVT. For more information and a free risk assessment kit, visit http://dvt.net/myDVTrisk or call 1-866-MY-DVT-RISK. About sanofi-aventis Sanofi-aventis Group is the world's third largest pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&D organization, sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine, and vaccines. The sanofi-aventis Group is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY) The sanofi-aventis Group conducts its business in the United States through its subsidiaries Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi Pasteur Inc. Susan Brooks, Elizabeth Schupp Baxter susan.brooks@sanofi-aventis.com 212-845-4212 908-243-7564 elizabeth.baxter@eurorscg.com