Evaluation of Long-Term Sequelae After Thrombophlebitis, i.e. Deep Venous Thrombosis of the Lower Extremities

Deep Venous Thrombosis. Long-Term Results After Treatment With Either Low-Molecular -Weight Heparin or Unfractionated Heparin. Examinations of the Venous System.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of the new acute treatment of deep venous thrombosis by use of low-molecular-weight heparin compared with standard treatment using unfractionated heparin, especially concerning long-term morbidity.

Deep-venous thrombosis (DVT) remains a common clinical problem (annual incidence 0.10-0.16%) and long-term morbidity as chronic venous insufficience (CVI) in 10-30%.

As to recurrent DVT, initial treatment with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin ( to-day's terminology Fractionated Heparin (FH)) and Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) has shown equal efficiency, whereas the efficacy concerning long-term morbidity has only more recently been published.

This study was initiated to compare the efficacy of UFH and FH concerning the incidence of CVI after symptomatic DVT at short-term and long-term follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• First DVT with or without known risk factors except overt cancer
• Second DVT more than two years after the first if the patient was without clinical signs of CVI.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to anticoagulation therapy
• Candidate to thrombectomy with arterious-venous fistula or thrombolytic therapy
• Known cancer at the time of the DVT diagnosis
• Patients unable to cooperate for anticoagulation therapy or manage the tests.