DUTCH CAVA-trial: CAtheter Versus Anticoagulation Alone f... | NCT00970619

Status Module

Oversight Module

Description Module

Brief Summary

Rationale: Iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (IFDVT) is associated with significant post thrombotic morbidity. The presence of both obstruction and reflux significantly increases the chances for development of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Early thrombolysis may reduce the incidence of PTS as compared to treatment with conventional anticoagulant medication alone. Improvement of the health related quality of life (HRQOL) has been reported after surgical clot removal. The investigators hypothesize that such improvements could also be reached after catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT).

Objective: To assess whether CDT for the treatment of IFDVT can safely and effectively reduce post-thrombotic morbidity after one year. The secondary objective is to study whether CDT intervention has a positive effect on the HRQOL of patients with IFDVT and to assess late PTS.

Study design: Prospective, multicenter, single-blind, allocation concealed, randomized controlled trial Study population: All consecutive patients with IFDVT presenting at the emergency or outpatient departments of the participating centers. The thrombus should not be older than 14 days at randomization.

Intervention: After randomization patients will be allocated to either conservative anticoagulant treatment or to CDT combined with conservative anticoagulant treatment.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of PTS at one year; a decline in PTS incidence from 25% to 8% is anticipated. The secondary outcome is the Health related Quality of life. The principal safety outcome is major bleeding during anticoagulant therapy. Bleeding as well as events of recurrent thrombosis will be monitored. Measurements of markers of coagulation and inflammation will be performed during follow-up. After CDT the patency of the venous system in the affected lower limb will be assessed as well as the percentage of clot lysis. The development of late PTS during follow-up will also be monitored.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: For patients who are randomized to CDT a hospital stay for 24-96 hours is mandatory. All patients will undergo additional imaging by magnetic resonance venography and air phletysmography (if available) at baseline and after 12 months; blood will be taken at these visits. Clinical follow-up visits will be matching usual care at 3, 6, 12 months. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires will be filled out by all patients at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months after the event; and once a year during the entire study duration. Further treatment will be in accordance with current guidelines for antithrombotic treatment. There may be an enhanced risk of bleeding in the thrombolysis group. The expected benefit is reduction of PTS from 25% to 8%, together with an improved quality of life.

Arms/Interventions Module

Arm Groups

Label	Type	Description	Intervention Names
Conventional anticoagulation therapy	No Intervention	Conservative treatment consists of an initial treatment with therapeutic doses of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in combination with vitamin K-antagonists, followed by treatment with vitamin K-antagonist alone (after completing LMWH treatment of at least 5-7 days and after an international normalized ratio (INR) above 2 has been reached on two consecutive measurements). Or alternatively the new direct activated factor X inhibitors can be used as anticoagulation therapy. Anticoagulant treatment will be installed according to national and international guidelines (ACCP 2008 [23], CBO 2008 [24]) tailored based on the character of the event (6 months of therapy for idiopathic DVT and 3 months for provoked DVT).
Ekos Endowave system thrombolysis	Experimental	Catheter directed thrombolysis will be performed with an Ekos Endowave ® system (EKOS Corporation, Bothell, WA). The system uses a standard guide wire to position the Intelligent Drug Delivery Catheter across the length of the target clot. The guide wire is introduced through the popliteal vein. Along the guide wire the catheter is positioned. The location of the dispersion catheter is controlled and if necessary adjusted by X-ray. The guide wire is then pulled out and replaced with the Microsonic core (a miniscule high frequency (2MHz) ultrasound transducer). The system automatically monitors and controls the microsonic energy delivery. This system does not fragment the thrombus but only gives a structural change by which a better penetration of the thrombolytic agent is achieved.	Device: Ekos endowave system thrombolysis

Interventions

Name	Type	Description	Arm Group Labels	Other Names
Ekos endowave system thrombolysis	Device	Catheter directed thrombolysis will be performed with an Ekos Endowave ® system (EKOS Corporation, Bothell, WA). The system uses a standard guide wire to position the Intelligent Drug Delivery Catheter across the length of the target clot. The guide wire is introduced through the popliteal vein. Along the guide wire the catheter is positioned. The location of the dispersion catheter is controlled and if necessary adjusted by X-ray. The guide wire is then pulled out and replaced with the Microsonic core (a miniscule high frequency (2MHz) ultrasound transducer). The system automatically monitors and controls the microsonic energy delivery. This system does not fragment the thrombus but only gives a structural change by which a better penetration of the thrombolytic agent is achieved.

Measure	Description	Time Frame
Post thrombotic syndrome (percentage of patients with PTS) one year following the acute thrombotic event.		one year

Measure	Description	Time Frame
The Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL)		5 years
PTS during follow-up		5 years
Recurrent venous thrombo-embolisms (VTE): DVT/Pulmonary Embolism during follow-up

Eligibility Module

Name	Affiliation	Role
Hugo ten Cate, MD, PhD	Maastricht University Medical Centre	Principal Investigator

Facility	Status	City	State	ZIP	Country	Contacts
Maastricht University Medical Centre		Maastricht	Limburg	6202 AZ	Netherlands
Academisch Medisch Centrum

References Module

Citations

PubMed Identifier	Type	Citation	Retractions
39968829	Derived	Flumignan RL, Nakano LC, Flumignan CD, Baptista-Silva JC. Angioplasty or stenting for deep venous thrombosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 Feb 19;2(2):CD011468. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011468.pub2.
38547453	Derived	Iding AFJ, Alkarithi G, Cate HT, Ariens RAS, Ten Cate-Hoek AJ. Fibrinogen levels and clot properties identify patients who benefit from catheter-directed thrombolysis after DVT. Blood Adv. 2024 Jun 11;8(11):2924-2932. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023012493.