The efficacy and safety of acenocoumarol and warfarin therapy in patients with lower limb deep vein thrombosis

UNLABELLED: Only few studies are available on the comparison of the efficacy and safety of the acenocoumarol and warfarin. The authors treated patients with deep vein thrombosis according to latest recommendations using D-dimer measurements and duplex ultrasound exams. AIMS: To examine the efficacy and safety of the two anticoagulants in patients with lower limb deep vein thrombosis. METHODS: The authors included 100 consecutive patients with lower limb dee deep vein thrombosis. The patients were treated with acenocoumarol or warfarin in doses to achieve INR values between 2 and 3.5 for six months. After 6 months the authors performed physical examination, D-dimer measurements and ultrasound exams, and determined the rate of unchanged thrombotic process, as well as the rate of complete and incomplete recanalisations. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the number of INR determinations during treatment between the two groups (acenocoumarol group 442, warfarin group 416). The INR values were in the therapeutic range in 71.2% and 75.4% of patients in the acenocoumarol and warfarin groups, respectively. Dose adjustment was necessary in 129 and 84 times in the acenocoumarol and warfarin groups, respectively (p = 0.0025). The therapy was optimally effective (INR value was within the therapeutic range throughout the treatment period) in 46% and 52% of patients in the acenocoumarol and warfarin groups, respectively. The thrombotic vein was completely recanalised in 91.9% of patients treated optimally, and only 80.4% of patients treated not optimally. There were 3 minor bleedings in the acenocoumarol and 4 minor bleedings in the warfarin groups, while one major bleedings occurred in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The INR values were more stable in the warfarin group than in the acenocumarole group. In both groups the rate of complete vein recanalization was related to the rate of optimally stable INR values within the therapeutic range.