Photo Credit: ALIOUI Mohammed Elamine

Noninferiority of reduced- versus full-dose anticoagulants cannot be proven in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) who need extended anticoagulation, according to a study presented at the recent American Society of Hematology meeting. The researchers conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial comparing anticoagulation regimens in patients with VTE at high risk for recurrence. Recurrent VTE occurred in 19 of 1,383 patients in the reduced-dose group versus 15 of 1,385 in the full-dose group during the 36-month median follow-up (five-year cumulative incidence, 2.2% vs 1.8%; HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.67-2.60; P=0.23 for noninferiority). Clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 96 patients in the reduced-dose group and 154 in the full-dose group (5 year cumulative incidence, 9.9% vs 15.2%). The composite outcome of recurrent VTE and clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 113 and 166 patients in the reduced- and full-dose groups, respectively (5 year cumulative incidence, 11.8% vs 16.5%). All-cause death occurred in 4.3% and 6.1% of each respective group.