Long-term management of venous thromboembolism: is there a role for low-intensity warfarin therapy?

• Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA.

---

• 1. Rosendaal FR. Venous thrombosis: a multicausal disease. Lancet 1999; 353: 1167-1173.
• 2. Hirsh J. The optimal duration of anticoagulant therapy for venous thrombosis. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 1710-1711.
• 3. Hyers TM, Agnelli G, Hull RD, et al. Antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolic disease. Chest 2001; 119 (1 Suppl): 176S–193S.
• 4. Heit JA, Mohr DN, Silverstein MD, et al. Predictors of recurrence after deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: a population-based cohort study. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160: 761-768.
• 5. Kearon C. Duration of anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism. J Thromb Thrombolysis 2001; 12: 59-65.
• 6. Hutten BA, Prins MH. Duration of treatment with vitamin K antagonists in symptomatic venous thromboembolism. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000; 3: CD001367.
• 7. Levine MN, Raskob G, Landefeld S, et al. Hemorrhagic complications of anticoagulant treatment. Chest 2001; 119 (1 Suppl): 108S-121S.
• 8. Ridker PM, Goldhaber SZ, Danielson E, et al. Long-term, low-intensity warfarin therapy for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med 2003; 348: 1425-1434.
• 9. Schulman S, Granqvist S, Holmstrom M, et al. The duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after a second episode of venous thromboembolism. The Duration of Anticoagulation Trial Study Group. N Engl J Med 1997; 336: 393-398.
• 10. Kearon C, Gent M, Hirsh J, et al. A comparison of three months of anticoagulation with extended anticoagulation for a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med 1999; 340: 901-907.
• 11. Agnelli G, Prandoni P, Santamaria MG. Three months versus one year of oral anticoagulant therapy for idiopathic deep venous thrombosis. Warfarin Optimal Duration Italian Trial Investigators. N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 165-169.
• 12. Kearon C, Ginsberg JS, Kovacs M, et al. Low intensity (INR 1.5–1.9) versus conventional intensity (INR 2.0–3.0) anticoagulation for extended treatment of unprovoked VTE: randomised double-blind trial [abstract]. Blood 2002; 100: 150a.
• 13. Eriksson H, Wählander K, Lundström T, et al. Extended secondary prevention with the oral direct thrombin inhibitor ximelagatran for 18 months after 6 months of anticoagulation in patients with venous thromboembolism: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial [abstract]. Blood 2002; 100: 81a.