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Q In patients with a first episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE) who had received vitamin K antagonists for ⩾3 months, does an abnormal D-dimer test result 30 days after discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy predict VTE recurrence?
Clinical impact ratings IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★★ Haematology ★★★★★★★
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial (PROLONG study).
Allocation:
concealed.*
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessors {and monitoring committee}†).*
Follow up period:
up to 18 months (mean 1.4 y).
Setting:
30 clinical centres in Italy.
Patients:
619 patients 18–85 years of age (mean age 63 y, 52% men) who had a first episode of symptomatic, unprovoked VTE, including proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, pulmonary embolism, or both; had received a vitamin K antagonist (warfarin or acenocoumarol) for ⩾3 months with a target international normalised ratio (INR) of 2.5 (range 2.0–3.0); and had D-dimer testing 30 days after anticoagulation was discontinued. Exclusion criteria …
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