The influence of prolonged antithrombotic therapy on the development of post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs

The article is devoted to the incidence and severity of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), the odds ratio (OR) of PTS development in patients with previous proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) against the background of prolonged antithrombotic warfarin and sulodexide (SD) therapy (ATT) with due account for safety and development of clinically significant bleeding (CSB) during the year. A total of 130 patients aged 18 to 69 years with acute proximal DVT were enrolled in the comparative prospective study. Group I included 64 patients (31 men and 33 women), who received vitamin K antagonists (warfarin) therapy. Group II included 66 patients (37 men and 29 women), who received sulodexide in 3 months after completing a course of standard ACT (heparins in the acute period with the transition to AVK). The studied parameters included OR, incidence and severity of PTS in patients according to the Villalta scale, and the incidence rate of PTS against the background of prolonged warfarin and sulodexide ATT in 12 months’ time. It was established that the prolonged sulodexide ATT within one year after completing a course of standard ACT in patients with proximal DVT reduced the development of clinical signs of PTS by 22.2% compared to the standard warfarin therapy. At the same time, there is a lower incidence of severe forms of PTS in patients, who underwent proximal venous thrombosis, 17.8% against the background of sulodexide treatment. Thus, the prolonged sulodexide ATT is associated with a 1.7-fold decrease in the risk of the development of both PTS and its severe forms. Therefore, the prolonged use of sulodexide for one year in patients, who underwent proximal DVT, provides an alternative to warfarin and is associated with a lower incidence of PTS, including its severe forms. The prolonged sulodexide ATT is safe and does not cause the development of clinically significant hemorrhagic complications during the year.