PROPHYLAXIS OF RECURRENT DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS - A RANDOMIZED, PROSPECTIVE-STUDY USING INDOBUFEN AND GRADUATED ELASTIC COMPRESSION STOCKINGS

After an episode of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) 224 patients were ran domized into four groups: a control group (A; 63 subjects); one receiv ing prophylaxis with indobufen (B; 60 patients)-an oral antiplatelet a gent; one using graduated elastic compression stockings (C; 53); and o ne receiving prophylaxis with both indobufen and graduated stockings ( D; 48). Patients were monitored over a three-year period with color du plex scanning repeated every three months. In 46% of the controls ther e was at least one episode of recurrent DVT (RDVT). In patients receiv ing indobufen (group B) and using graduated compression stockings (gro up C) the incidence of RDVT was significantly lower (5% and 9.43%, res pectively). The incidence of RDVT was further significantly reduced by the combination of the two methods (group D) (2.08%). In conclusion, RDVT is common and often asymptomatic and can be effectively prevented by prophylaxis with indobufen or graduated compression and more effec tively by the combination of the two methods.