Hypercoagulable States and Thrombophilias: Risks Relating to Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism

AbstractInherited and acquired thrombophilias and hypercoagulable states, such as active cancer, estrogen-induced, autoimmune disorders, major surgery, hospitalization, and trauma, are well-known risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The effect of these on recurrent VTE is different for each specific risk factor. The major risk factors affecting VTE recurrence include the presence of active cancer and an unprovoked first VTE. In addition, the use of combined female hormones in a woman with a previous history of estrogen-related VTE is a major risk factor for VTE recurrence. The extent of influence of inherited thrombophilia on the risk of recurrence is controversial. Conversely, the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, specifically triple positive carriers, appears to increase the risk of VTE recurrence. Understanding the rates of recurrent VTE in a patient and the individual risk of bleeding is important in determining the duration of anticoagulation therapy.

Download Full-text

P3850Impact of sex and risk factors for venous thromboembolism on the clinical course of first acute venous thromboembolism. Insights from the PREFER in VTE

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz745.0690 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Giustozzi ◽

S Barco ◽

L Valerio ◽

F A Klok ◽

M C Vedovati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Baseline Risk ◽

Major Surgery ◽

First Episode ◽

Risk Of Recurrence ◽

Recurrent Vte ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction The interaction between sex and specific provoking risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) may influence initial presentation and prognosis. Purpose We investigated the impact of sex on the risk of recurrence across subgroups of patients with first VTE classified according to baseline risk factors. Methods PREFER in VTE was an international, non-interventional registry (2013–2015) including patients with a first episode of acute symptomatic objectively diagnosed VTE. We studied the risk of recurrence in patients classified according to baseline provoking risk factors for VTE consisted of i) major transient (major surgery/trauma, >5 days in bed), ii) minor transient (pregnancy or puerperium, estroprogestinic therapy, prolonged immobilization, current infection or bone fracture/soft tissue trauma); iii) unprovoked events, iv) active cancer-associated VTE. Results A total of 3,455 patients diagnosed with first acute VTE were identified, of whom 1,623 (47%) were women. The percentage of patients with a major transient risk factor was 22.2% among women and 19.7% among men. Minor transient risk factors were present in 21.3% and 12.4%, unprovoked VTE in 51.6% and 61.6%, cancer-associated VTE in 4.9% of women and 6.3% of men, respectively. The proportions of cases treated with Vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were similar between sexes. Median length of treatment of VKAs was 181.5 and 182.0 days and of DOACs was 113.0 and 155.0 days in women and men, respectively. At 12-months of follow-up, VTE recurrence was reported in 74 (4.8%) women and 80 (4.5%) men. Table 1 shows the sex-specific proportion of recurrences by VTE risk factor categories. Table 1 Major Transient (n=722) Minor transient (n=573) Cancer-associated (n=195) Unprovoked (1965) Women (361) Men (361) OR (95% CI) Women (346) Men (227) OR (95% CI) Women (79) Men (116) OR (95% CI) Women (837) Men (1128) OR (95% CI) One-year follow-up, n (N%) Recurrent VTE, 21 (6.2) 10 (2.9) 0.46 (0.2; 0.9) 9 (2.7) 12 (5.4) 2.09 (0.9; 5.0) 6 (8.0) 5 (4.5) 0.54 (0.2; 1.9) 38 (4.7) 53 (4.7) 1.03 (0.7; 1.6) Major bleeding, 6 (1.8) 5 (1.5) 0.83 (0.3; 2.7) 5 (1.5) 1 (0.5) 0.30 (0.1; 2.6) 1 (1.3) 3 (2.7) 2.07 (0.2; 20) 10 (1.2) 15 (1.4) 1.11 (0.6; 2.4) All-cause death, 37 (10.2) 31 (8.5) 0.82 (0.5; 1.4) 10 (2.9) 14 (6.2) 2.21 (0.9; 5.1) 26 (32.9) 49 (42.2) 1.49 (0.8; 2.7) 33 (3.9) 30 (2.7) 0.66 (0.4; 1.1) Conclusions The proportion of patients with recurrent VTE events after first acute symptomatic VTE provoked by transient risk factors was not negligible during the first year of follow-up during in both women and men. These results may have implications on the decision whether to consider extended anticoagulant therapy in selected patients with provoked events. Acknowledgement/Funding This study was funded by Daiichi Sankyo.

Download Full-text

D-Dimer Levels and Risk of Recurrence Following Provoked Venous Thromboembolism: Findings from the Riete Registry

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-111190 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 3810-3810

Author(s):

Martin Ellis ◽

Martin Mar ◽

Monreal Manuel ◽

Orly Hamburger-Avnery ◽

Alessandra Bura-Riviere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Conflicts Of Interest ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Recurrent Vte ◽

D Dimer

Abstract Background. Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) secondary to transient risk factors or cancer may develop VTE recurrences after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy. Identifying at-risk patients could help to guide the ideal duration of anticoagulant therapy in these patients. Methods. We used the RIETE database to assess the prognostic value of d-dimer testing after discontinuing anticoagulation to identify patients at increased risk for recurrences. The proportion of patients with raised d-dimer levels was determined and the hazard ratio (HR) for VTE recurrences compared to those with normal levels was calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with VTE recurrence were performed. Results. 3 606 patients were identified in the database in April 2018: 2 590 had VTE after a transient risk factor and 1016 had a cancer. D-dimer levels were measured after discontinuing anticoagulation in 1 732 (67%) patients with transient risk factors and 732 (72%) patients with cancer-associated VTE and these patients formed the cohort in which recurrent VTE rate was calculated. D-dimers and were elevated in 551 (31.8%) of patients with a transient risk factor and were normal in 1181 (68.2%). In the cancer-associated group, d-dimers were elevated in 398 (54.3%) and normal in 334 (45.7%) patients. The adjusted hazard ratio for recurrent VTE was: 2.32 (95%CI: 1.55-3.49) in patients with transient risk factors and 2.23 (95%CI: 1.50-3.39) in those with cancer. Conclusions. Patients with raised d-dimer levels after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy for provoked or cancer-associated VTE are at increased risk for recurrent VTE and death. Future studies could target these patients for extended anticoagulation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text

Broadening the Categories of Patients Eligible for Extended Venous Thromboembolism Treatment

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0039-3400302 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 120 (01) ◽

pp. 014-026 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marc Schindewolf ◽

Jeffrey Ian Weitz

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Anticoagulation Therapy ◽

Specific Risk ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractTraditionally, venous thromboembolism (VTE) resulting from major transient risk factors (e.g., surgery or trauma) or a major persistent risk factor such as cancer, has been defined as being provoked, whereas unprovoked VTE encompasses events without an identifiable cause. These categorizations influence anticoagulant treatment duration; unlike VTE provoked by major transient risk factors, extended anticoagulation beyond 3 months is advised for patients with cancer or unprovoked VTE due to risk persistence after treatment cessation. However, some patients with VTE provoked by minor transient or minor persistent risk factors may also be candidates for extended anticoagulation therapy due to the continuing risk of recurrence. In patients who require extended therapy, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are effective but are associated with an increased risk of bleeding and various treatment burdens (e.g., anticoagulation monitoring and dose adjustment). Evaluations of extended VTE treatment with the less-burdensome direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban show that they are at least as safe and effective as VKAs in a broad range of patients. In addition, apixaban and rivaroxaban offer more than one dosing option, allowing tailoring of treatment to the patient's specific risk factor profile. Analysis of more granular definitions for risk factor groupings has also yielded vital information on the most appropriate strategies for the treatment of patients with specific risk factors, highlighting that extended anticoagulation treatment may benefit those with minor transient and persistent environmental and nonenvironmental risk factors who commonly receive shorter-duration therapy.

Download Full-text

Risk Factors for Major Bleeding during Prolonged Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism: From the COMMAND VTE Registry

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0039-1692425 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 119 (09) ◽

pp. 1498-1507 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kitae Kim ◽

Yugo Yamashita ◽

Takeshi Morimoto ◽

Takeshi Kitai ◽

Takafumi Yamane ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Anticoagulation Therapy ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Major Bleeding Events ◽

Active Cancer

Background There are limited data assessing the risk for bleeding on anticoagulation therapy beyond the acute phase in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The present study aimed to identify risk factors for major bleeding during prolonged anticoagulation therapy in VTE patients. Patients and Methods The COMMAND VTE Registry is a multicenter registry enrolling 3,027 consecutive patients with acute symptomatic VTE. The current study population consisted of 2,728 patients who received anticoagulation therapy beyond the acute phase, after excluding those patients with major bleeding events (n = 48), death (n = 66), or loss to follow-up (n = 32) during the initial parenteral anticoagulation period within 10 days after diagnosis, and those without anticoagulation therapy beyond 10 days after diagnosis (n = 153). Results During the median follow-up period of 555 days, major bleeding occurred in 189 patients (70 patients within 3 months; 119 patients beyond 3 months) with fatal bleeding in 24 patients (13%). The cumulative incidence of major bleeding was 2.7% at 3 months, 5.2% at 1 year, and 11.8% at 5 years. Active cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.23–4.18), previous major bleeding (HR, 2.38, 95% CI, 1.51–3.59), anemia (HR, 1.75, 95% CI, 1.27–2.43), thrombocytopenia (HR, 2.11, 95% CI, 1.27–3.33), and age ≥75 years (HR, 1.64, 95% CI, 1.22–2.20) were independently associated with an increased risk for major bleeding by the multivariable Cox regression model. Conclusion Major bleeding events were not uncommon during prolonged anticoagulation therapy in real-world VTE patients. Active cancer, previous major bleeding, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and old age were the independent risk factors for major bleeding.

Download Full-text

Reasons for the persistent incidence of venous thromboembolism

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th16-07-0509 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 117 (02) ◽

pp. 390-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

John A. Heit ◽

Aneel A. Ashrani ◽

Daniel J. Crusan ◽

Robert D. McBane ◽

Tanya M. Petterson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Poisson Regression ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Olmsted County ◽

Incidence Trends ◽

Prevalence Of Obesity ◽

Age And Sex ◽

Active Cancer

SummaryReasons for trends in venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence are uncertain. It was our objective to determine VTE incidence trends and risk factor prevalence, and estimate population-attributable risk (PAR) trends for each risk factor. In a population-based cohort study of all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1981–2010, annual incidence rates were calculated using incident VTE cases as the numerator and age- and sex-specific Olmsted County population estimates as the denominator. Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship of crude incidence rates to year of diagnosis, age at diagnosis, and sex. Trends in annual prevalence of major VTE risk factors were estimated using linear regression. Poisson regression with time-dependent risk factors (person-years approach) was used to model the entire population of Olmsted County and derive the PAR. The age- and sex-adjusted annual VTE incidence, 1981–2010, did not change significantly. Over the time period, 1988–2010, the prevalence of obesity, surgery, active cancer and leg paresis increased. Patient age, hospitalisation, surgery, cancer, trauma, leg paresis and nursing home confinement jointly accounted for 79 % of incident VTE; obesity accounted for 33 % of incident idiopathic VTE. The increasing prevalence of obesity, cancer and surgery accounted in part for the persistent VTE incidence. The PAR of active cancer and surgery, 1981–2010, significantly increased. In conclusion, almost 80 % of incident VTE events are attributable to known major VTE risk factors and one-third of incident idiopathic VTE events are attributable to obesity. Increasing surgery PAR suggests that concurrent efforts to prevent VTE may have been insufficient.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

Download Full-text

The Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Patients with Advanced Solid Cancers Receiving Anticoagulation Therapy After the Diagnosis of Index Vte; A Korean Venous Thromboembolism Registry Study.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.2247.2247 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 2247-2247

Author(s):

Ho-Young Yhim ◽

Moon Ju Jang ◽

Won-Il Choi ◽

Yong Cheol Lee ◽

Jeong-Ok Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Anticoagulation Therapy ◽

Tumor Site ◽

Primary Tumor Site ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Independent Risk Factors ◽

Recurrent Vte

Abstract Abstract 2247 Introduction Patients (pts) with cancer have been associated with increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, few data are available regarding the recurrent VTE in Asian pts with advanced solid cancers. Thus, the aim of the study is to investigate the incidence and risk factors for recurrent VTE in pts with advanced solid cancers receiving anticoagulation therapy after index VTE. And, we also evaluate the prognostic impact of recurrent VTE on overall survival (OS) in this population. Methods This study was conducted using data from the web-based registry of the Korean Thrombosis Working Party (http://kdvt.chamc.co.kr), which is an ongoing, multicenter database for recruiting consecutive pts presenting with VTE. Pts were included in the study cohort if they had been diagnosed with recurrent/metastatic solid cancers between May 2004 and Dec 2011 and initiated anticoagulation therapy. Pts were excluded if they had received a diagnosis of hematologic malignancies, if solid cancers were not recurrent or metastatic disease, if index VTE was intra-abdominal venous thrombosis or vascular access-induced thrombosis, or if anticoagulation therapy was not instituted. Pts were also excluded if they were lost to follow-up within 1 week after initiating anticoagulation therapy. Maximal duration of anticoagulation therapy was 12 months and pts in whom anticoagulation therapy was stopped within 12 months were censored at the time of discontinuation. Results A total of 456 pts were included in this analysis. The median age was 65 (range, 27–91) years and 249 pts (55%) were male. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was 0 or 1 in 185 pts (41%). The primary sites of tumor were breast in 22 (5%), genito-urinary tracts in 38 (8%), esophago-gastric in 76 (17%), colo-rectum in 81 (18%), hepato-biliary tracts in 37 (8%), pancreas in 66 (15%), and lung in 136 (30%). Palliative chemotherapy was administered in 328 pts (72%). The location of index VTE was isolated pulmonary embolism (PE) in 196 (43%), isolated lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in 169 (37%), and concomitant PE and DVT in 91 (20%). For initial anticoagulation therapy, low molecular weight heparin was administered in 362 pts (79%), and for long-term therapy, 306 pts (75%) received warfarin. The median duration of anticoagulation therapy after index VTE was 2.4 (range, 0.1–58.3) months. The 6-months and 12-month cumulative incidences of recurrent VTE were 22.4% (95% CI, 19.4–25.4) and 28.7% (95% CI, 24.0–33.4), respectively. In the multivariate analysis for identifying the risk factors associated with the development of recurrent VTE, pancreas (HR, 6.12; 95% CI, 2.00–18.73) and lung (HR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.03–8.58) as the primary tumor site, poor ECOG PS (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.14–2.67) and VTE initially presented with PE (HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.17–4.47) were independent risk factors for increased risk of recurrent VTE. With a median follow-up of 29.1 (range, 1.0–91.2) months, median OS was 11.9 (95% CI, 10.2–13.6) months. Pts with recurrent VTE had a significantly shorter OS than those without recurrent VTE (median, 8.4 vs. 13.0 months, P<0.001). In the multivariate model, occurrence of recurrent VTE was independently associated with the increased risk of death (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.03–1.88). Conclusion Although Asian populations are thought to have lower risk for developing recurrent VTE, our study demonstrates that the incidence of recurrent VTE in pts with advanced solid cancers is comparable to that of Western populations. Lung or pancreas as a primary tumor site, poor PS, and initial presentation with PE are independent risk factors for recurrent VTE. Additionally, survival is adversely affected by recurrent VTE. Further studies are needed to validate the results of our study and to optimize the treatment strategies for improving treatment outcomes in advanced cancer pts. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text

Cardiovascular risk factors during cancer treatment: prevalence, incidence and prognostic relevance

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.3251 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

J Caro Codon ◽

T Lopez-Fernandez ◽

C Alvarez-Ortega ◽

P Zamora Aunon ◽

I Rodriguez Rodriguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cancer Therapy ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Individual Risk ◽

Funding Source ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

All Cause Mortality

Abstract Background The actual usefulness of CV risk factor assessment in the prognostic evaluation of cancer patients treated with cardiotoxic treatment remains largely unknown. Design Prospective multicenter study in patients scheduled to receive anticancer therapy related with moderate/high cardiotoxic risk. Methods A total of 1324 patients underwent follow-up in a dedicated cardio-oncology clinic from April 2012 to October 2017. Special care was given to the identification and control of CV risk factors. Clinical data, blood samples and echocardiographic parameters were prospectively collected according to protocol, at baseline before cancer therapy and then at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 1.5 years and 2 years after initiation of cancer therapy. Results At baseline, 893 patients (67.4%) presented at least 1 risk factor, with a significant number of patients newly diagnosed during follow-up. Individual risk factors were not related with worse prognosis during a 2-year follow-up. However, a higher Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) was significantly associated with higher rates of severe cardiotoxicity and all-cause mortality [HR 1.79 (95% CI 1.16–2.76) for SCORE 5–9 and HR 4.90 (95% CI 2.44–9.82) for SCORE ≥10 when compared with patients with lower SCORE (0–4)]. Conclusions This large cohort of patients treated with a potentially cardiotoxic regimen showed a significant prevalence of CV risk factors at baseline and significant incidence during follow-up. Baseline cardiovascular risk assessment using SCORE predicted severe cardiotoxicity and all-cause mortality. Therefore, its use should be recommended in the evaluation of cancer patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This study was partially funded by the Fondo Investigaciones Sanitarias (Spain), Centro de Investigaciόn Biomédica en Red Cardiovascular CIBER-CV (Spain)

Download Full-text

Risk factors for incident venous thromboembolism in active cancer patients: A population based case–control study

Thrombosis Research ◽

10.1016/j.thromres.2016.01.002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 139 ◽

pp. 29-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Aneel A. Ashrani ◽

Rachel E. Gullerud ◽

Tanya M. Petterson ◽

Randolph S. Marks ◽

Kent R. Bailey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Population Based ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Study ◽

Active Cancer

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of first and recurrent venous thromboembolism: A population-based cohort study in patients without active cancer

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th13-09-0793 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (08) ◽

pp. 255-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Alexander T. Cohen ◽

Luke Bamber ◽

Stephan Rietbrock ◽

Carlos Martinez

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

The Elderly ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Practice Research ◽

Clinical Practice Research Datalink ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Recurrent Vte ◽

Active Cancer

SummaryContemporary data from population studies on the incidence and complications of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are limited. An observational cohort study was undertaken to estimate the incidence of first and recurrent VTE. The cohort was identified from all patients in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) with additional linked information on hospitalisation and cause of death. Between 2001 and 2011, patients with first VTE were identified and the subset without active cancer-related VTE observed for up to 10 years for recurrent VTE. The 10-year cumulative incidence rates (CIR) were derived with adjustment for mortality as a competing risk event. A total of 35,373 first VTE events (12,073 provoked, 16,708 unprovoked and 6592 active cancer-associated VTE) among 26.9 million person-years of observation were identified. The overall incidence rate (IR) of VTE was 131.5 (95% CI, 130.2–132.9) per 100,000 person-years and 107.0 (95% CI, 105.8–108.2) after excluding cancer-associated VTE. DVT was more common in the young and PE was more common in the elderly. VTE recurrence occurred in 3671 (CIR 25.2%). The IR for recurrence peaked in the first six months at around 11 per 100 person years. It levelled out after three years and then remained at around 2 per 100 person years from year 4–10 of follow-up. The IRs for recurrences were particularly high in young men. In conclusion, VTE is common and associated with high recurrence rates. Effort is required to prevent VTE and to reduce recurrences.

Download Full-text

Long-term Clinical Follow-up in 265 Patients with Deep Venous Thrombosis Initially Treated with either Unfractionated Heparin or Dalteparin: A Retrospective Analysis

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0037-1614364 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 82 (10) ◽

pp. 1222-1226 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

W. Åberg ◽

D. Lockner ◽

C. Paul ◽

M. Holmström

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Venous Thrombosis ◽

Deep Venous Thrombosis ◽

Unfractionated Heparin ◽

Malignant Disease ◽

Duration Of Treatment ◽

Post Thrombotic Syndrome ◽

Recurrent Vte

SummaryThe primary objective of this retrospective study was to describe the frequency of a post-thrombotic syndrome in 265 patients previously treated for deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The secondary objectives were to document the frequency of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and mortality, especially from malignant disease. The patients were evaluated 5-14 years after inclusion in three randomized trials comparing continuous intravenous (i. v.) infusion of unfractionated heparin (UFH) (n = 85) with a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), dalteparin (n = 180). The median post-thrombotic score at follow-up was 2 (range 0-8). In a multiple step-wise regression analysis the post-thrombotic score was significantly higher among patients with initial proximal DVT (p = 0,0001) as compared with those who had distal DVT. A recurrent venous thromboembolic event was diagnosed in 29,4% of the patients treated with dalteparin and in 23,5% of the patients treated with UFH (ns). A secondary risk factor for venous thromboembolism and a longer duration of treatment with oral anticoagulants (OAC) were significantly associated with a lower risk for recurrent VTE, whereas malignant disease diagnosed during follow-up was associated with a higher risk. During follow-up a total of 40,7% of patients had died. No difference in total mortality or mortality from malignant disease was demonstrated between the two drugs. In conclusion, a severe post-thrombotic syndrome occured relatively infrequent. considering the long observation period. Proximal DVT was significantly associated with a more severe post-thrombotic syndrome. After 14 years follow-up, no significant differences were observed in overall mortality, mortality from malignant disease or recurrent VTE between UFH- and dalteparin-treated patients. Malignant disease was a risk factor for recurrent VTE, the presence of a secondary risk factor and a longer duration of treatment with OAC decreased the risk for recurrent VTE.

Download Full-text