[Treatment of deep vein thrombosis. Current and future questions].

Treatment of deep vein thrombosis is founded on the association of low molecular weight heparin and oral anticoagulant for three or six months. However efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin are not different from that of unfractionated heparin. Moreover measurement of anti-Xa activity does not permit a clear definition of therapeutic range in patients with a high hemorrhagic risk. Oral anticoagulant prevent recurrences of venous thrombosis, however the high risk of major haemorrhages limits their long term use. Pentasaccharide and Melagatran are news potent drugs that should deeply modify the treatment of venous thrombo-embolism.