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In patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE), anticoagulant therapy helps prevent recurrences, but whether this benefit continues after anticoagulation is stopped is unknown. This multisite study from France involved 371 patients (mean age, 58) with first episodes of unprovoked pulmonary embolism (PE; no clear risk factors for thrombosis) who had completed 6 months of anticoagulation with a vitamin K antagonist. Patients were divided relatively evenly among those at high, medium, and low risk for bleeding. After enrollment, patients were randomized to either warfarin or placebo for 18 months. Patients were followed for a median 24 months after the 18-month treatment period.
During treatment, risk for the composite outcome of recu…