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But results of one small trial do not change clinical practice,expert says. By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- After suffering a type ofblood clot called a venous thromboembolism, patients usually take ablood-thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin). But aspirin may do justas well after a period of time, according to a new Italian study. Blood-thinning, or "anticoagulant," therapy is used to preventanother clot, which occurs in about 20 percent of patients.However, extended use of warfarin can increase the risk forbleeding, so researchers wanted to know whether aspirin would be agood alternative after two years of treatment with warfarin. "Aspirin given after a standard course of anticoagulant treatmentmay reduce recurrence of venous thromboembolism without increasingcomplications," said lead researcher Dr. Cecilia Becattini, fromthe Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine and Stroke Unit at theUniversity of Perugia. So aspirin can be an alternative after an initial period ofwarfarin treatment, Becattini said, and "patients could be shiftedto aspirin after talking it over with their doctor." The study was published in the May 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine . An accompanying journal editorial noted that venousthromboembolism, which includes deep vein thrombosis (blood clotsin the legs) and pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lungs), occursin two to three people per 1,000 yearly. The danger of a venous thromboembolism is that a clot can breakloose and travel to the lungs, heart or brain, resulting in a heartattack, stroke, difficulty breathing or even death. For the study, Becattini's team randomly assigned 402 patients toreceive aspirin or an inactive placebo after receiving otheranticoagulant treatment for six to 18 months. All of the patients had had a first episode of venousthromboembolism and had not had any risk factors that might havepredicted it, the researchers noted. Over two years of follow-up, 28 (6.6 percent) of those takingaspirin had a venous thromboembolism recur, compared with 43 (11.2percent) of those receiving a placebo, the study found. One patient in each group had an episode of major bleeding, theauthors noted. "Aspirin reduced the risk of recurrence when given to patients withunprovoked venous thromboembolism who had discontinuedanticoagulant treatment, with no apparent increase in the risk ofmajor bleeding," the researchers concluded. Dr. Richard Becker, author of the journal editorial and professorof medicine and director of the Duke Cardiovascular ThrombosisCenter at Duke University Medical Center, said, "I consider thesefindings important, but preliminary." He added, "Aspirin would not at this time be considered thestandard of care to reduce the recurrence of deep vein thrombosis." Becker also noted that this study is too small to change practice. There are two larger trials under way and if the findings supportthose of this study, then aspirin may be an option for somepatients, particularly those patients at high risk for bleedingwith warfarin, he said. "I do not want to give the impression that the standard of care haschanged because of this study," Becker said. Bayer HealthCare helped fund the study. More information For more about venous thromboembolism, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine . SOURCES: Cecilia Becattini, M.D., Ph.D., Internal andCardiovascular Medicine, Stroke Unit, University of Perugia, Italy;Richard C. Becker, M.D., professor of medicine, director, DukeCardiovascular Thrombosis Center, Duke University Medical Center,Durham, N.C.; May 24, 2012, New England Journal of Medicine Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Led Keychain Lights , China Mine Safety Lamp for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Led Miners Cap Lamp.
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