How Long to Treat Venous Thromboembolism?

A large randomized trial suggests that 3 months is reasonable.

While it is generally accepted that patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) should receive anticoagulation for at least 3 months, there is continuing debate about whether to continue treatment beyond that time. In this study, 749 adults with proven or highly probable VTE (pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis) were recruited from 46 U.K. hospitals. None of the patients had an identified persistent predisposition to VTE; about half had transient reversible risk factors, and the other half had no evident cause. They were randomized to receive standard anticoagulation for either 3 months or 6 months (target INR, 2.0 to 3.5).

Patients were followed for 12 months. During treatment, VTE extended, failed to resolve, or recurred in 6 patie…

Reviewing Author

Keith I. Marton, MD