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Thromb Haemost 1985; 53(01): 137-140
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661254
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Relationship Between Thromboembolic Complications and Intensity of Treatment During Long-Term Prophylaxis with Oral Anticoagulants Following DVT

Sam Schulman
The Thrombosis Unit, Department of Medicine, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
,
Dieter Lockner
The Thrombosis Unit, Department of Medicine, Huddinge University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 11 September 1984

Accepted 07 December 1984

Publication Date:
18 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The frequency of thromboembolic recurrencies during secondary prophylaxis after DVT was retrospectively studied and related to the intensity of the oral anticoagulation. All patients receiving oral anticoagulation after DVT at our hospital during April 1972 - May 1980 were studied. Treatment was given to 596 patients for 724 thrombotic events for a total of 4450 months. Thirty-six thromboembolic complications, all objectively verified, occurred. Patients with cancer had complications throughout the entire range of anticoagulation. Patients without neoplastic disease (15 events) never had complications below a prothrombin complex level of 27% as assessed with Simplastin A, corresponding to a BCT-ratio of 1.9. This study confirms, that the lower limit of the therapeutic range, determined by the risk of thromboembolic complications, should be set at a Simplastin A-level of approx. 25% corresponding to BCT 2.0.

Key words

Oral anticoagulation - Deep vein thrombosis - Pulmonary embolism - Complication - Cancer - Therapeutic range - Simplastin A
 

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