Duration of Anticoagulation Therapy After Deep Venous Thrombosis

To explore the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for deep venous thrombosis, investigators at nine centers in Italy conducted a study in 538 consecutive patients with a first incidence of acute proximal DVT. After 3 months of uneventful anticoagulation, patients were randomized to fixed-duration or flexible-duration anticoagulation. In the fixed-duration group, patients with secondary thrombosis received no further treatment, and those with unprovoked thrombosis received another 3 months of anticoagulation. In the flexible-duration group, patients underwent follow-up ultrasonography. Those with recanalized veins received no further treatment; otherwise, anticoagulation was continued for ≤9 months in patients with secondary thrombo…