Absence of Residual Vein Thrombosis Permits to Withdrawn Oral Anticoagulants
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background. The optimal duration of oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with idiopathic
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)of the lower limbs is still uncertain. Residual Vein Thrombosis
(RVT) has been found able to establish the patient' risk for recurrent thrombotic events. In
the present study we conducted a RVT-based therapeutic strategy, withholding OAT after 3
months in patients without RVT while continuing anticoagulants for at least additional 9
months in those in whom RVT persists.
Methods Patients with a first episode of symptomatic unprovoked proximal Vein Thrombosis (VT)
were given Oral Anticoagulant Treatment (OAT) for 3 months. Residual Vein Thrombosis (RVT),
ultrasonographically-detected, will be then assessed. Patients without RVT did not continue
OAT (Group B), whereas those with RVT will continue OAT for at least additional 9 months.
Patients were followed-up prospectively focusing on the study outcomes: occurrence of
recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding over a period of at least 12 months after
OAT discontinuation.