The fibrinolytic capacity of 121 patients with a history of venous thrombosis and/or
pulmonary embolism was studied by venous occlusion technique, at earliest 3 months
after the last thromboembolic episode. After discontinuation of oral anticoagulation
treatment the clinical course of the patients was followed and new thromboembolic
episodes were noted. During the observation period of 56 ± 18.8 months 45 of 121 patients
experienced recurrence of thrombosis. The recurrence-rate was significantly lower
in patients with a post-occlusion ELT shorter than 60 min (4.8%/year) than in patients
with an ELT longer than 60 min (10.3%/year). It is concluded that the fibrinolytic
capacity is a useful parameter for determining the risk of recurrence in patients
with venous thrombosis.
Keywords
Tissue-type plasminogen activator - Fibrinolytic capacity-venous thrombosis - Recurrence