The New England journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of three months of anticoagulation with extended anticoagulation for a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism.
Patients who have a first episode of venous thromboembolism in the absence of known risk factors for thrombosis (idiopathic thrombosis) are often treated with anticoagulant therapy for three months. Such patients may benefit from longer treatment, however, because they appear to have an increased risk of recurrence after anticoagulant therapy is stopped. ⋯ Patients with a first episode of idiopathic venous thromboembolism should be treated with anticoagulant agents for longer than three months.