The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7439 p183
17 February 2007

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Extra benefit from extended anticoagulation unlikely

Patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism who have no known risk factors for recurrence are unlikely to gain extra benefit from six, rather than three, months of anticoagulation, the authors of a study published online conclude (8 February 2007).

The researchers found that, among 749 patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, there was no significant difference in the rate of adverse outcome in patients allocated to three or to six months’ anticoagulation with heparin and warfarin.