Duration of Oral Anticoagulation for Venous Thromboembolism

Recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs in as many as 30% of patients who discontinue oral anticoagulant therapy. Many factors are associated with high risk for recurrence, including proximal (versus distal) vein thrombosis, male sex, and body-mass index >30 kg/m2 (Pathophysiol Haemost Thromb 2005; 34:6). Although continuing oral anticoagulation lowers risk for VTE recurrence, long-term treatment with warfarin is inconvenient and is associated with an annual 1% to 3% risk for major bleeding. Identifying patients whose risk for recurrence is low, and whose anticoagulation therapy could be …