RCT: Extended use of dabigatran, warfarin, or placebo in venous thromboembolism (RE-MEDY and RE-SONATE trial)

Source: N Engl J Med Area: News Patients with provoked venous thromboembolism caused by transient risk factors can usually stop anticoagulation after 3 months of treatment. For patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE), for which the risk of recurrence is as high as 40% at 5 years, a longer course of therapy may be considered. However, there are difficulties in balancing the risks and benefits of extended anticoagulation. Warfarin has greater than 90% efficacy in preventing recurrences but is associated with a risk of major bleeding of 1 to 2% per year.   Two studies in the New England Journal of Medicine, examine the efficacy and safety of dabigatran for extended treatment of unprovoked VTE after at least 3 initial months of anticoagulation therapy. The RE-MEDY trial involved 2866 patients designated by investigators to be at increased risk for recurrence of VTE who were randomised to receive dabigatran 150 mg twice daily, or warfarin (INR, 2.0 to 3.0). The RE-SONATE trial involved patients ...
Source: NeLM - Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Source Type: news