Question

A 70-year-old man with a prior unprovoked DVT completed 6 months of anticoagulation with apixaban and is now off therapy. He asks about his risk of recurrence and whether he should resume anticoagulation. He has no major bleeding risk factors. What is the most appropriate advice?

Accepted Answer

Resume indefinite anticoagulation if he accepts a small ongoing bleeding risk

Answer

No further anticoagulation is needed as recurrence risk is negligible

Answer

Restart anticoagulation only if another DVT occurs

Answer

Switch to aspirin alone for secondary prevention

Answer

Use prophylactic-dose low molecular weight heparin indefinitely

Practice question

A 70-year-old man with a prior unprovoked DVT completed 6 months of anticoagulation with apixaban and is now off therapy. He asks about his risk of recurrence and whether he should resume anticoagulation. He has no major bleeding risk factors. What is the most appropriate advice?