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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2012; 33(02): 186-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1311797
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Medical Therapy in Venous Thromboembolism

Sabine Eichinger
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
2   Karl Landsteiner Institute of Thrombosis Research, Vienna, Austria.
,
Paul A. Kyrle
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
2   Karl Landsteiner Institute of Thrombosis Research, Vienna, Austria.
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
30 May 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Immediate intense anticoagulation with parenteral anticoagulants (heparin or fondaparinux) followed by vitamin K antagonists is the current standard therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or nonmassive pulmonary embolism. In the future, new oral anticoagulants may replace not only vitamin K antagonists but also initial parenteral anticoagulation. Duration of anticoagulation should be at least 3 months because shorter courses double the recurrence rates. More prolonged anticoagulation therapy may be warranted in the presence of specific clinical risk factors. Global markers of coagulation, particularly D-dimer, may discriminate low- and high-risk patients. Models that combine clinical characteristics and laboratory markers further improve prediction of the recurrence risk in individual patients, but these models await validation before they can be applied in routine care.

Keywords

deep venous thrombosis - pulmonary embolism - venous thromboembolism - anticoagulation
 

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