Shorter or longer anticoagulation to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism: systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major disease associated with short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. Patients with a VTE provoked by surgery or immobilisation are at low risk of recurrence and do not require long-term anticoagulation; those with a VTE and metastatic cancer are at high risk of recurrence and require lifetime thromboprophylaxis. In those at intermediate risk of recurrence, it remains controversial whether prolonging anticoagulation and thus incurring treatment burden and bleeding risk is warranted.

Methods and analysis

We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials enrolling patients with VTE at intermediate risk of recurrence and evaluating short-term anticoagulation (12 weeks to 9 months initia

SUBMITTER: Lopes LC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4091261 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature