Recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE, or deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) is associated with mortality and long-term morbidity. The circumstances in which an index VTE event occurred are crucial when personalized VTE recurrence risk is assessed. Patients who experience a VTE event in the setting of a transient major risk factor (such as surgery associated with general anesthesia for >30 minutes) are predicted to have a low VTE recurrence risk following discontinuation of anticoagulation, and limited-duration anticoagulation is generally recommended. In contrast, those patients whose VTE event occurred in the absence of risk factors or who have persistent risk factors have a higher VTE recurrence risk. Here, we review the literature surrounding VTE recurrence risk in a range of clinical conditions. We describe gender-specific risks, including VTE recurrence risk following hormone- and pregnancy-associated VTE events. Finally, we discuss how the competing impacts of VTE recurrence and bleeding have shaped international guideline recommendations.© 2020 by The American Society of Hematology.
Which patients are at high risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism)?
