Residual vein thrombosis to establish duration of anticoagulation after a first episode of deep vein thrombosis: the Duration of Anticoagulation based on Compression UltraSonography (DACUS) study

Abstract Residual vein thrombosis (RVT) indicates a prothrombotic state and is useful for evaluating the optimal duration of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT). Patients with a first episode of deep vein thrombosis, treated with OAT for 3 months, were managed according to RVT findings. Those with RVT were randomized to either stop or continue anticoagulants for 9 additional months, whereas in those without RVT, OAT was stopped. Outcomes were recurrent venous thromboembolism and/or major bleeding. Residual thrombosis was detected in 180 (69.8%) of 258 patients; recurrent events occurred in 27.2% of those who discontinued (25/92; 15.2% person-years) and 19.3% of those who continued OAT (17/88…