Review articles

Seligsohn, U. and A. Lubetsky

Genetic susceptibility to venous thrombosis.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2001. 344(16):p. 1222-31
Description: A comprehensive review of genetic risk factors that predispose to venous throembolism.

Levine, J.S., D.W. Branch, and J. Rauch

The antiphospholipid syndrome.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2002. 346(10): p. 752-63.
Description: An overview of the antiphospholipid syndrome, with a clear description of the diagnostic tests available.

Original articles

Middeldorp, S., et al.

A prospective study of asymptomatic carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation to determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2001. 135(5): p. 322-7.

Simioni, P., et al.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in asymptomatic family members who are carriers of factor V Leiden: a prospective cohort study.
Blood, 2002. 99(6): p. 1938-42.
Description: Two prospective cohort studies indicating that asymptomatic heterozygous carriers of factor V leiden mutations have a significantly elevated relative risk, but a low absolute risk, of spontaneous thromboembolism.

Meinardi, J.R., et al.

The incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism in carriers of factor V Leiden is related to concomitant thrombophilic disorders.
British Journal of Haematology, 2002. 116(3): p. 625-31.
Description: A retrospective study suggesting that the long-term risk of thombosis recurrence in symptomatic heterozygous carriers for factor V leiden is significant, and significantly increased by the presence of factor II mutations or hyperhomocysteinemia.

Schulman, S., E. Svenungsson, and S. Granqvist

Anticardiolipin antibodies predict early recurrence of thromboembolism and death among patients with venous thromboembolism following anticoagulant therapy. Duration of Anticoagulation Study Group.
American Journal of Medicine, 1998. 104(4): p. 332-8.
Description: A prospective trial of duration of anticoagulation therapy in patients with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and first thromboembolism. The subgroup with persistently elevated titers of anticardiolipin antibodies had significantly increased long term risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism, and benefited from long-term anticoagulation.

Prandoni, P., et al.

The long-term clinical course of acute deep venous thrombosis.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 1996. 125(1): p. 1-7.
Description: A prospective study showing that patients presenting with symptomatic idiopathic venous thromboembolism are at significant long term risk of recurrent episodes.

Kearon, C., et al.

A comparison of three months of anticoagulation with extended anticoagulation for a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism.
New England Journal of Medicine, 1999. 340(12): p. 901-7.

Ridker, P.M., et al.

Long-term, low-intensity warfarin therapy for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2003. 348(15): p. 1425-34.
Description: Prospective trials evaluating optimal duration of anticoagulation after initial presentation of idiopathis venous thromboembolism. Longer is better, and indefinite low intensity therapy may be best.

Schulman, S., et al.

The duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after a second episode of venous thromboembolism. The Duration of Anticoagulation Trial Study Group.
New England Journal of Medicine, 1997. 336(6): p. 393-8.
Description: A prospective trial showing that indefinite oral anticoagulation after a second episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism is better.

Sallah, S., J.Y. Wan, and N.P. Nguyen

Venous thrombosis in patients with solid tumors: determination of frequency and characteristics.
Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 2002. 87(4): p. 575-9.
Description: A recent retrospective review of the incidence of venous thromboembolism in solid tumors. Renal, pancreatic, gastric and brain tumors, and advanced stage disease were significantly associated with venous thromboembolism, as was ongoing chemotherapy.

Sorensen, H.T., et al.

The risk of a diagnosis of cancer after primary deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
New England Journal of Medicine, 1998. 338(17): p. 1169-73.
Description: A population wide study of the risk of cancer diagnosis after a presentation of idiopathic venous thromboembolism. The relative risk of advanced cancer is initially elevated, but falls rapidly to baseline after 6 months

Abstracts

Crowther, M.A., et al.

A randomized trial of two intensities of warfarin (INR of 2.0 to 3.0 versus 3.1 to 4.0) for the prevention of recurrent thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies.
Blood, 2002. 100: p. 148a.
Description: A recent abstract suggesting that a lower target INR of 2-3 is effective in prophylaxis of recurrent venous thromboembolism in the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Levine, M.N., et al.

A randomized trial of long term dalteparin low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) versus oral anticoagulant (OA) therapy in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism.
Blood, 2002. 100: p. 82a.
Description: A recent abstract indicating that low molecular weight heparin is better than warfarin for prophylaxis of recurrent venous thromboembolism in cancer patients.

Expert opinion

Hirsh, J. and A.Y. Lee

How we diagnose and treat deep vein thrombosis.
Blood, 2002. 99(9): p. 3102-10.
Description: Expert opinion on the management of symptomatic venous thromboembolism.

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