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Benilde Cosmi, Cristina Legnani, Michela Cini, Giuliana Guazzaloca, Gualtiero Palareti
D-dimer levels in combination with residual venous obstruction and the risk of recurrence after anticoagulation withdrawal for a first idiopathic deep vein thrombosis
We assessed the predictive value of D-dimer levels in combination with residual venous obstruction (RVO) for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a prospective cohort of outpatients after oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) suspension for a first episode of idiopathic proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs during a 2-year follow-up. Patients (n=400) were enrolled on the day of OAT suspension when RVO was determined by compression ultrasonography (present in 48.6% of patients). D-dimer (cut-off value: 500 ng/mL) was measured 30 10 days afterwards (abnormal in 56.4% of patients). The overall recurrence rate was 16.7% (67/400; 95% confidence intervals - CI -:1321%). The multivariate hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence was 3.32 (95% CI:1.786.75; p<0.0001) for abnormal D-dimer compared to normal D-dimer and 1.2 (95% CI:0.722.07; p>0.05) for RVO compared to absent RVO. The recurrence rate was 5.7% (95% CI:213%) and 10.4% (95% CI:618%), respectively, for normal D-dimer either without or with RVO, 22.9% (95% CI:1433%) and 25.9% (95% CI: 1835%), respectively, for abnormal D-dimer, either without or with RVO. When compared with normal D-dimer without RVO, the multivariate HR for recurrence was similar for abnormal D-dimer either with RVO (4.76 95% CI:1.7812.8) or without RVO (4.395%:1.5611.88). Abnormal D-dimer at one month after OAT withdrawal is an independent risk factor for recurrent VTE, while RVO at the time of OAT withdrawal, either with normal or abnormal D-dimer after one month, does not influence the risk of recurrence.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Schattauer
Print ISSN: 0340-6245
Volume: 94, 11/2005
Pages: 969 - 974