Loading...
Do all patients with first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) require long-term anticoagulation? In this study, researchers evaluated whether a negative d-dimer test result safely identifies patients in whom anticoagulation can be stopped. d-dimer testing was done in 410 patients with first episodes of unprovoked VTE (i.e., proximal deep venous thrombosis of the legs or pulmonary embolism) who had been receiving anticoagulation therapy for 3 to 7 months. Patients with positive results during coagulation continued anticoagulation; those with negative results stopped anticoagulation and had second d-dimer tests 1 month later. If second tests were positive, anticoagulation was reinitiated; if they were negative, therapy was stopped indefi…