Ultrasound Findings to Adjust the Duration of Anticoagulation
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Prospective controlled randomized clinical trial. Consecutive patients with acute proximal
deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities, with or without contemporary
manifestations of pulmonary embolism, are randomized to receive either a fixed duration of
anticoagulant therapy (three months in patients with DVT secondary to transitory risk
factors, six months in patients with idiopathic DVT) or a flexible duration of anticoagulant
therapy, according to the persistence of residual thrombi, as shown by leg veins
ultrasonography (up to 1 year in patients with secondary DVT, up to 2 years in those with
idiopathic DVT). All patients are followed up to three years to assess the development of
(objectively documented) recurrent thromboembolism. The rate of recurrent thromboembolism is
compared between the two study groups, as well as the rate of major bleeding complications
occurring during anticoagulation.